[Hearing status of Robin sequence patients].

OBJECTIVE

To determine wether Robin sequence is a risk factor for conductive and/or sensorineural hearing loss.

PATIENTS: 13 children with type III Robin sequence, admitted in our institution between 1984 and 1997 for tracheotomy were enrolled in this retrospective study.

METHODS

Each child had several audiological evaluations including subjective and objective methods adapted to their age. Subjective methods were audiometric tests, objective methods were Click Evoqued Otoacoustic Emissions and Auditory Brainstem Response.

RESULTS

3 children had normal hearing, 10 children had a conductive hearing loss caused by middle ear effusion, 4 patients had also a congenital permanent sensorineural evolutive hearing loss. Among the 4 infants with a sensorineural hearing loss, 2 had a polymalformative syndrome, and 2 had an isolated Robin sequence.

CONCLUSION

Robin sequence is a risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss. This hearing loss should be assessed as soon as possible after birth by otoscopy, click-evoqued otoacoustic emissions, auditory brainstem response and audiometric tests.