Hearing Loss, Middle Ear Disease Found in Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

RELEASE DATE: September 2, 1997 (Embargoed)

CONTACT:
Kenneth Satterfield
(703) 519-1563
(415) 978-3504 (9/5/97-9/10/97)
Email: [email protected]

NEW STUDY FINDS HIGH INCIDENCE
OF HEARING LOSS AND MIDDLE EAR DISEASE AMONG CHILDREN WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME

SAN FRANCISCO -- Children with prenatal alcohol exposures, especially those with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), have a high incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (damage to the sensory nerve for hearing) and middle ear disease. This is the conclusion of research completed by Ted Rheney, MD, Will F. McGuirt, Jr., MD, and Tamison Jewett, MD, all from the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC.

The results of the research were presented at the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Foundation which is being held at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA on September 7-10, 1997. The meeting is the largest gathering for otolaryngologists, physicians who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck.

The purpose of the study was to determine the otologic manifestations of fetal alcohol syndrome, a disorder affecting 1 in 750 live births, 10,000 births being reported each year in the United States.

Methodology: Some 105 children were evaluated for fetal alcohol syndrome at the North Carolina Baptist Hospital had their hearing tested by a range of audiometric tests as well as examined for otitis media (middle ear disease). Two study groups were observed: (1) 14 children were diagnosed with FAS; and (2) 48 with fetal alcohol exposure (FAE).

Results: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss (average hearing loss of 43db) was found in 43 percent of the patients with FAS, 19 percent with FAE. Additionally, 71 percent of the FAS patients had chronic middle ear disease requiring treatment of surgery; the corresponding rate for FAE patients was 43 percent.

The three physicians stated that in light of the high incidence of mental retardation and developmental speech delay found in children with FAS/FAE, this group should receive early audiometric and otologic evaluations.

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(For additional information regarding this research and the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting, contact Ken Satterfield at (703) 519-1563 or at the annual meeting newsroom, (415) 978-3504).