Prevalence of pressure equalization tube placement and hearing loss in children with down syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of pressure equalization tube (PET) placement and hearing loss in children with Down syndrome (DS).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

We evaluated 90 DS children births between 1 and 11 years old and compared to 90 children without DS paired in sex and age. Medical records were analyzed consecutively. Were collected data about proceedings PET placement, age of the patient at each PET, adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy and results for audiometry and tympanometry.

RESULTS

Among the 90 patients with DS, 49 (54.4%) were male, median age of 58 months (15-143 months). In this group, 75 PET were placed in 26/90 children (28.9%) mostly between 3 and 5 years old. In 10/26 (38.5%) was necessary PET replaced. When compared to the control group- 6/90 (6.7%)- children with DS presented OR = 13.7 (95% CI 4.0-47.3) times more likely to use PET. Adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy (44.4% and 42.2% respectively) were significantly more frequent in DS group. The prevalence of hearing loss was 32.1% in the right ear and 26.9% in the left ear. Type B timpanometry was found in more than half of the patients with DS.

CONCLUSION

We found a 13-fold higher risk of PET in DS children, especially between the ages of 3-5 years. The high prevalence of hearing loss and PET placement in patients with DS reinforcing the importance of early and regular follow-up for hearing screening in this population, mostly in preschool-aged children.