難聴乳幼児の受診までの過程

THE PROCESS WITH WHICH THE HARD OF HEARING INFANTS ARE BROUGHT TO MEDICAL ATTENTION

　緒言

　難聴児に対する関心と理解が最近とみに高まり，その治療教育の施設も増加しつつあることは喜ばしいかぎりである。しかし，難聴が疑われたその時点から治療教育が始まるといわれているにもかかわらず，診断がえられないまま治療教育開始の時期を失している例に日常臨床場面で遭遇することが少なくない。ことに，難聴の早期発見は種々の困難を伴うが，治療教育開始の時期の上で重要な位置を占めていると考える。

　私どもは，この早期発見のあい路打開対策をたてるために，当科で取り扱つた難聴乳幼児の周囲の人々の難聴に対する認識，受診までの過程について調査した。その結果，今後の対策について2, 3の知見を得たので報告する。

　The process with which medical attention is sought for the hard of hearing infants and young children is investigated. One hundred eighty infants, aged 0-5, were brought to the clinic for examination. The results were as follows:

　1. There were 137 infants (76%) with hearing defect; 37 conductive and 100 perceptual.

　2. Among 173 infants with complaints of hearing defect, actual lesions were found in 130. The remaining number was suspected as cases of mental retardation.

　3. In 85% of cases the mothers were the first ones to suspect the hearing defect.

　4. In 85% of cases the hearing defect was suspected before the infant reached the age of 2.

　5. If the infants had been brought to clinical attention immediately after the arousal of suspicion, the diagnosis of the defect would have been established before the age of 18 months in 80% of cases.

　6. The way in which the mothers recognized the hearing defect was characterized by being severe, medium or light in degree.

　7. About 50% of the number of infants whose hearing defect had not been suspected of before the age 3, the rehabilitation was hindered from 4 months to 36 months.

　8. Much is expected of the Otolaryngologists for making early diagnosis of hearing defects among the infants, but the present medical system of this country is stymied with many difficulties.

　9. In order to overcome some of these difficulties the authors make following suggestions: A. The parents should be enlightened with the means by which to defect hearing defect early in infancy.

　B. When a hearing defect is suspected, the child should be brought to medical attention without delay.

　C. Cooperation of the Doctors, Educators and Psychologists should be sought to cope with this problem.