Prevalence of Epileptiform Discharges in Children with Sensori-Neural Hearing Loss and Behavioral Problems Compared to Their Normal Hearing Peers

OBJECTIVE: Overactivity and behavioral problems are common problems in children with prelingually profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Data on epileptiform electroencephalography (EEG) discharges in deaf children with psychological disorders are so limited. The primary focus of this study was to determine the prevalence of epileptiform discharges (EDs) in children with SNHL and overactivity or behavioral problems. MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 262 patients with prelingually profound SNHL who were referred to our cochlear implantation center between 2008 and 2010 were enrolled in this study. Children with SNHL who had diagnosis of overactivity and/or behavioral problems by a pediatric psychiatrist, underwent electroencephalography (EEG). EEG analysis was carried out by a board-certified pediatric neurologist. The control group consisted of 45 cases with overactivity or behavioral problems and normal hearing. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-eight children with mean age of 3.5±1.23 year were enrolled in the case group, of whom 88 cases (63.7%) were boy. The control group consisted of 45 cases with mean age of 3.2±1.53 years, of whom 30 (66.6%) cases were male. EDs were detected in 28 (20.02%) children of the case group (with SNHL) in comparison with 4 (8.88%) in the control group (without SNHL), which was statistically significantly different. CONCLUSION: In this study, we obtained higher frequency of EDs in deaf children with overactivity and/or behavioral problem compared to the children without SNHL. Further studies are required to evaluate the possible association of SNHL with EDs in overactive children.