Article Figures & Data
Tables
Hearing Loss Group Comparison Group Characteristics No. % No. % *P=<.001. †P=<.05. Age* 1–4 years 190 18.8 14,762 16.1 5–12 years 552 54.7 58,007 63.3 13–18 years 268 26.5 18,822 20.6 Sex† Male 541 53.6 45,918 50.1 Female 469 46.4 45,673 49.9 Race* African American 415 41.1 48,309 52.8 White 510 50.5 37,900 41.4 Other 85 8.4 5,382 5.9 Number of Codes ICD-9-CM Code Children With Code No. (%) ICD-9-CM = International Classification of Disease, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification. 1 code (n = 747, 74.0%) 389.0 (conductive hearing loss) 243 (24.1) 389.1 (sensorineural hearing loss) 393 (38.9) 389.2 (mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss) 15 (1.5) 389.9 (unspecified hearing loss) 96 (9.5) 2 codes (n = 211, 20.9%) 389.1 & 389.9 101 (10.0) 389.0 & 389.1 41 (4.1) 389.0 & 389.9 30 (3.0) Other 2-code combinations 39 (3.9) 3 or more codes (n=52, 5.1%) 389.0, 389.1, and 389.9 33 (3.3) Other combinations of 3 or more codes 19 (1.9) Hearing Loss Group Comparison Group Injury No. Rate per 100 No. Rate per 100 Overall rate 179 17.72 7,863 8.58 Traumatic brain injury 1 0.10 87 0.09 Other head, face, and neck 49 4.85 2,125 2.32 Spinal cord injury 0 0.00 1 0.00 Vertebral column injury 2 0.20 278 0.30 Torso 9 0.89 510 0.56 Upper extremity 73 7.23 2,660 2.90 Lower extremity 50 4.95 2,214 2.42 Other and unspecified 5 0.50 372 0.41 Fracture 26 2.57 1,054 1.15 Dislocation 3 0.30 137 0.15 Sprains and strains 29 2.87 1,394 1.52 Internal 1 0.10 98 0.11 Open wound 40 3.96 1,807 1.97 Contusion, superficial 72 7.13 2,738 2.99 Burns 5 0.50 275 0.30 Injury Category RR 95% CI χ2 P Value Note: Sex, age, and race are included as covariates in each model, and relative rates are for children with hearing loss compared to controls. Only outcomes with at least 10 occurrences in the hearing loss and comparison group are included. RR = relative rate; CI = confidence interval. Any injury 1.98 1.71–2.30 82.13 <.001 Other head, face, and neck 2.04 1.53–2.70 24.15 <.001 Upper extremity 2.28 1.80–2.87 47.99 <.001 Lower extremity 1.88 1.42–2.49 19.54 <.001 Fracture 2.02 1.37–2.99 12.61 <.001 Sprains and strains 1.64 1.14–2.38 7.02 .008 Open wound 1.92 1.41–2.63 16.75 <.001 Contusion, superficial 2.27 1.80–2.87 47.20 <.001 Hearing Loss Group Comparison Group Hearing Loss vs Comparison Group External Cause No. Rate per 100 No. Rate per 100 Adjusted Rate Ratio* 95% CI * Adjusted for age, sex, and race. Fall 48 4.75 1,531 1.67 2.75 2.06– 0.67 Other specified 32 3.17 1,378 1.50 2.02 1.42–2.87 Struck by or against 23 2.28 1,243 1.36 1.58 1.05–2.39 Cut or pierce 11 1.09 498 0.54 1.89 1.04–3.43 Motor vehicle traffic, all 6 0.59 460 0.50 Natural or environmental 6 0.59 402 0.44 Pedal cyclist, other 5 0.50 242 0.26 Fire or hot object or substance 3 0.30 93 0.10 Poisoning 85 0.09 Transportation, all other 3 0.30 83 0.09 Firearm 35 0.04 Suffocation 9 0.01 Machinery 4 0.004 Pedestrian, other 1 0.10 4 0.004 Drowning 3 0.003
Additional Files
The Article in Brief
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.
Jump to section
Related Articles
Cited By...
- Outcomes in patients with and without disability admitted to hospital with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study
- Risk of hospital-treated injury in children with cerebral palsy: a population-based cohort study
- Secondhand smoke exposure and the risk of hearing loss
- In This Issue: Equity Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development