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Ocular morbidity in hearing impaired schoolchildren
Author(s) -
Bist J.,
Adhikari P.,
Sharma A. K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2010.01137.x
Subject(s) - hearing impaired , audiology , medicine
Aims To determine the pattern and prevalence of ocular morbidity in hearing impaired schoolchildren. Methods A cross‐sectional descriptive study was conducted in the three different deaf schools of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kavre districts. All children in the deaf school underwent complete ocular examination. Examination included visual acuity assessment, refraction, binocular vision assessment, and anterior and posterior segment evaluation. Results Ocular examination was carried out in 279 children with age range within 5 to 20 years (mean age 14.1 ± 3.14 years). Ocular morbidity was detected in 78 (28%) children with 46 (16.48%) having refractive errors. Seventy eight percent children did not have corrective lenses despite having refractive errors. Two children were found to have pigmentary retinopathy where electro‐retinogram findings suggested Usher's Syndrome in one child. Another child was found to have Waardenburg Syndrome. Conclusions Hearing impaired children are at an increased risk of having ocular morbidity. Hence, periodic eye examinations are important in deaf children.