Work

Prospective long-term follow-up after grommet insertion: Hearing and functional health outcomes in children

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: To assess hearing levels and functional health outcomes of children two years after routine grommet surgery with standard care follow-up (discharge to General Practitioner (GP) care or Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic appointment at 4–8 weeks). Prospective cohort study of 89 children (average age of 7.98 years) recalled for audiological assessment 2 years after grommet surgery in a large ENT outpatient service in South Auckland, New Zealand. Functional health was assessed using parent-reported responses to the OMQ20 questionnaire. 46 (51.7 %) children had hearing loss in at least one ear with 28 (31.5 %) children having bilateral hearing loss. Māori children had statistically higher odds compared to non-Māori children (odds ratio 5.491, p = .003) to have bilateral hearing loss after controlling for age, household deprivation, gender, season, and mode of follow-up. Most parents reported concerns with their child's hearing, speech, attention-seeking behaviours, and nasal symptoms, but not ear problems. Bilateral hearing loss ( p < .001) was found to significantly predict functional health status (total OMQ20 score). The high prevalence of hearing loss and functional health concerns suggest that the standard follow-up care is not adequately managing children after routine grommet insertion. Māori children are disproportionately impacted, and post-grommet follow-up schedules must consider individualised approaches to address these inequities in outcomes. • Most children had hearing loss when assessed 2 years after grommet surgery. • Most parents reported concerns regarding their child's functional health 2 years after grommet surgery. • Māori children are impacted to a greater degree than non-Māori children. • Follow-up after grommet surgery should be individualised to address likely need for further intervention and treatment.

Source: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.112142

Authors: Michelle A. Pokorny, Wiremu MacFater, Inbal Meshulam-Weiss, Zahoor Ahmad

Institutions: University of Auckland, Health New Zealand

Language: English

Topic: Ear Surgery and Otitis Media

Subfield: Otorhinolaryngology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,490