Journal article
Degree-based and functional descriptions of paediatric hearing loss: a retrospective chart review
International journal of audiology
09/20/2026
DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2026.2732559
PMID: 42764520
Abstract
The report from a paediatric audiology assessment is a lasting record of clinical events and a channel for sharing information about hearing loss, but we lack information about current practices in this area.
We completed a retrospective chart review from infants with congenital hearing loss.
We analysed 374 reports to investigate how audiologists described hearing loss using a closed category set based on the level of descriptive information provided. We also analysed which child-level and clinic-level factors predict a report category.
Most reports described hearing loss using degree-based descriptions only (
= 238, 63.6%). Reports describing implications of hearing loss
= 99, 26.5%) were 2.34 times more likely to have come from a paediatric facility compared to a lifespan facility (95% CI = 1.9-6.4). Overall, the writing in reports exceeded reading level recommendations for those with low literacy (average reading grade level 11.56 [SD = 1.39] indicating difficult-very difficult).
This study reveals variability in how audiologists describe infant hearing loss after diagnosis. Audiologists in paediatric facilities include functional descriptions more often in their clinical reports than audiologists in lifespan practices. Overall, reports may be challenging for families to read and use to develop a care plan.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Degree-based and functional descriptions of paediatric hearing loss: a retrospective chart review
- Creators
- Caitlin Sapp - Department of Pediatric Audiology, University of North Carolina Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USAAllison Duplain - University of IowaRyan W McCreery - Boys Town National Research HospitalKaren Brennhofer - Clinical Audiology & Hearing Screening, Pediatrix Medical Group, USAElizabeth A Walker - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of audiology
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2026.2732559
- PMID
- 42764520
- NLM abbreviation
- Int J Audiol
- ISSN
- 1499-2027
- eISSN
- 1708-8186
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Grant note
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: R01 DC019081 American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation
This study was funded by NIH/NIDCD R01 DC018330 (PI: R. McCreery), R01 DC019081 (PI: E. Walker) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation through a student research grant in Audiology (PI: C. Sapp).
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 09/20/2026
- Academic Unit
- Communication Sciences and Disorders; Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9985236421102771
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