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Childhood hearing loss: Audiological profile, risk indicators, and care trajectory in public health services (2012-2024)

Perda auditiva na infância: perfil audiológico, indicadores de risco e trajetória assistencial em serviços públicos de saúde (2012-2024)

Allan Dayner Silva Lopes; Antônio Pereira de Carvalho Filho; Karinna Veríssimo Meira Taveira; Hannalice Gottschalck Cavalcanti

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216/20262862326 Revista CEFAC, vol.28, n6, e2326, 2026
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Abstract

Purpose: to characterize the epidemiological profile and care trajectory of children with confirmed hearing loss or undergoing audiological monitoring who received care within the public health network of Maceió, AL, Brazil, between 2012 and 2024.

Methods: an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, document-based study conducted at the five Specialized Rehabilitation Centers in the municipality. A total of 3,495 medical records of children aged 0 to 12 years were analyzed, including cases with confirmed hearing loss and cases undergoing audiological monitoring. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used (p < 0.05).

Results: neonatal hearing screening coverage was 80.9%. The median age at diagnosis was 1.0 year (IQR: 0.3-3.0), and the median age at intervention onset was also 1.0 year (IQR: 0.5-3.0). Only 34.6% of children initiated intervention by six months of age. Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss predominated, and risk indicators for hearing loss were identified in 42.0% of the sample.

Conclusion: despite the high coverage of neonatal hearing screening, delays in diagnostic confirmation and auditory intervention persist, highlighting weaknesses in the pediatric hearing care pathway within the analyzed public health network.

Keywords

Hearing Loss; Neonatal Screening; Epidemiology; Early Diagnosis; Child Health; Health Services

Resumo

Objetivo: caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico e a trajetória assistencial de crianças com perda auditiva confirmada ou sob monitoramento auditivo atendidas na rede pública de saúde de Maceió (AL), entre 2012 e 2024.

Métodos: estudo observacional, retrospectivo e transversal, de base documental, realizado nos cinco Centros Especializados de Reabilitação do município. Foram analisados 3.495 prontuários de crianças de 0 a 12 anos, incluindo casos com perda auditiva confirmada e casos sob monitoramento auditivo. Utilizaram-se estatísticas descritivas e os testes do qui-quadrado e de Kruskal-Wallis (p<0,05).

Resultados: a cobertura da triagem auditiva neonatal foi de 80,9%. A idade mediana ao diagnóstico foi de 1,0 ano (IIQ: 0,3-3,0) e ao início da intervenção também de 1,0 ano (IIQ: 0,5-3,0). Apenas 34,6% das crianças iniciaram intervenção até seis meses. Predominou a perda auditiva sensorioneural bilateral, e indicadores de risco foram identificados em 42,0% da amostra.

Conclusão: apesar da elevada cobertura da triagem auditiva neonatal, persistem atrasos na confirmação diagnóstica e na intervenção auditiva, evidenciando fragilidades na trajetória assistencial da saúde auditiva infantil na rede pública analisada.

Palavras-chave

Perda Auditiva; Triagem Neonatal; Epidemiologia; Diagnóstico Precoce; Saúde da Criança; Serviços de Saúde

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Submetido em:
12/04/2026

Revisado em:
08/07/2026

Aceito em:
28/09/2026

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