Work

Degree-based and functional descriptions of paediatric hearing loss: a retrospective chart review

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The report from a paediatric audiology assessment is a lasting record of clinical events and a channel for sharing information about hearing loss, but we lack information about current practices in this area. DESIGN: We completed a retrospective chart review from infants with congenital hearing loss. STUDY SAMPLE: We analysed 374 reports to investigate how audiologists described hearing loss using a closed category set based on the level of descriptive information provided. We also analysed which child-level and clinic-level factors predict a report category. RESULTS: = 99, 26.5%) were 2.34 times more likely to have come from a paediatric facility compared to a lifespan facility (95% CI = 1.9-6.4). Overall, the writing in reports exceeded reading level recommendations for those with low literacy (average reading grade level 11.56 [SD = 1.39] indicating difficult-very difficult). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals variability in how audiologists describe infant hearing loss after diagnosis. Audiologists in paediatric facilities include functional descriptions more often in their clinical reports than audiologists in lifespan practices. Overall, reports may be challenging for families to read and use to develop a care plan.

Source: International Journal of Audiology

DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2026.2732559

Authors: Caitlin Sapp, Allison Duplain, Ryan W. McCreery, Karen Brennhofer, Elizabeth A. Walker

Institutions: University of Iowa, Boys Town National Research Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation

Subfield: Speech and Hearing

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders