Evaluation of Hearing Loss in Congenital Hypothyroid Children at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India

Hearing loss has long been associated with congenital hypothyroidism and, if not noticed and treated early, may result in delayed language acquisition and difficulties in comprehension. In light of the implications of congenital hypothyroidism and its associated hearing loss, we decided to conduct this study. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of hearing loss in congenital hypothyroidism and its relation to the severity of the disease and age of initiation of treatment. This study was conducted from July 2016 to June 2021 at a tertiary care hospital in Bhopal. The hearing status of congenital hypothyroid children and matched controls was assessed by pure tone audiometry or free field audiometry and, in selected cases, with brainstem evoked response audiometry. Eight children (25%) with congenital hypothyroidism had hearing loss, compared to one (3.12%) in the control group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference has been found in the gender, mean age of diagnosis, mean age of initiation of levothyroxine treatment, mean screening FT4 levels, and mean screening TSH levels between congenital hypothyroid children with and without hearing loss. Due to the high prevalence of hearing loss in congenital hypothyroidism and its impact on language and cognitive development, it is critical to create awareness among healthcare professionals that children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism must undergo audiological evaluation at the time of diagnosis and periodically thereafter. Alternatively, children with unexplained hearing loss must be screened for congenital hypothyroidism.