Common Causes of Sensorineural Hearing Loss Among Children

Abstract

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children is a major public health problem with lifelong consequences for language development, education, and quality of life. The etiology is multifactorial, including congenital, perinatal, infectious, and iatrogenic factors, with preventable causes remaining highly prevalent in low- and middle-income settings. Understanding local risk distributions is essential for targeted interventions. Objective: To determine the most common causes of sensorineural hearing loss among children presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital over six months (March–August 2022). A total of 175 children aged 5–12 years with confirmed SNHL were enrolled through non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using structured caregiver interviews and validated against clinical records. Frequencies, percentages, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The most prevalent causes were ototoxic drug exposure (34.9%, OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.62–3.98, p < 0.001) and meningitis (29.1%, OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.28–3.08, p = 0.002). Significant associations were also found for neonatal jaundice (17.1%, OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.02–2.91, p = 0.039) and toxoplasmosis (15.4%, OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.01–2.89, p = 0.048). Rural residence and low socioeconomic status were significant demographic risk factors. Conclusion: Preventable causes, particularly drug-related ototoxicity and meningitis, account for the majority of pediatric SNHL in this population. Strengthening neonatal care, rational drug use, vaccination programs, and universal newborn hearing screening could substantially reduce the burden of hearing impairment.