Hearing Loss in Perinatally HIV-infected and HIV-exposed but Uninfected Children and Adolescents

• DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e31825b9524
• Publication Date: 2012-05-01T06:39:05Z
• Authors: Peter Torre; Bret Zeldow; Howard J. Hoffman; Ashley Buchanan; George K. Siberry; Mabel Rice; Patricia A. Sirois; Paige L. Williams
• Keywords: Male; Analysis of Variance; Adolescent; Puerto Rico; 610; HIV Infections; United States; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Logistic Models; 0302 clinical medicine; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Audiometry; Risk Factors; Prevalence; Humans; Female; Child; Hearing Loss

Little is known about hearing loss in children with HIV infection (HIV+). We examined the prevalence of hearing loss in perinatally HIV+ and HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children, compared these with the percentage with hearing loss in the general population and evaluated possible risk factors for hearing loss in HIV+ and HEU children.Audiometric examinations were completed in children who met any prespecified criteria for possible hearing loss. The hearing examination consisted of a tympanogram in each ear and pure-tone air-conduction threshold testing from 500 through 4000 Hz. Hearing loss was defined as the pure-tone average over these frequencies ≥ 20 dB hearing level. The associations of demographic variables, parent/caregiver, HIV disease and HIV treatment with hearing loss were evaluated with univariate and multivariable logistic regression models.Hearing testing was completed in 231 children (145 HIV+ and 86 HEU). Hearing loss occurred in 20.0% of HIV+ children and 10.5% of HEU children. After adjusting for caregiver education level, HIV infection was associated with increased odds of hearing loss (adjusted odds ratio = 2.13, 95% confidence interval: 0.95-4.76, P = 0.07). Among HIV+ children, those with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention class C diagnosis had over twice the odds of hearing loss (adjusted odds ratio = 2.47, 95% confidence interval: 1.04-5.87, P = 0.04). The prevalence of hearing loss was higher in both HIV+ and HEU children compared with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III children.Hearing loss was more common in both HIV+ and HEU children than in children from a US population sample. More advanced HIV illness increased the risk of hearing loss in HIV+ children.