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Children With Hearing Loss and Increased Risk of Injury
Joshua R. Mann, MD, MPH , and colleagues
Background Injury is the leading cause of death in children in the United States. It has been suggested that children with sensory disabilities (blindness or deafness) may be at increased risk of injuries, but there has been little research in this area. Based on South Carolina Medicaid data, this study examines rates of emergency department and hospital treatment for injury in children with hearing loss.
What This Study Found Children with hearing loss receive emergency department and/or hospital treatment for injuries at a significantly higher rate than do children without a disability. Rates of injury in children with hearing loss are more than twice as high as those without a disability. This may be due to reduced ability to recognize danger clues or to hear a parent?s warning.
Implications
- Prevention strategies for children with hearing loss and their families should be developed if additional research supports the finding that these children are at higher risk of injury.
- Clinicians should consider discussing injury prevention strategies with parents of children with hearing loss.