ABSTRACT
This is a preliminary study to determine the aetiological factors associated with profound sensorineural deafness in Sudanese children. Patients and A retrospective study of 264 Sudanese children suffering from profound sensorineural deafness with poor or no speech development. A detailed history questionnaire was obtained for all cases. General medical and local E.N.T. examination for all children was carried out by the authors. The audiometric investigations includcd play- free field and pure tone audiometry according to the child age. Haematological, biochemical and radiological investigations were performed where indicated. Ages ranged from 14 months to 14 years with a mean age of 5.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1.1:1.0. One hundred flinty eight cases were born as a result of consanguineous marriages and 120 cases had a positive family history of deafness. One hundred and fifty four children were exposed to quinine therapy. Fourteen children had received gentamicin therapy as neonates. Thirty children developed deafness following mumps. Eighteen children acquired deafness after meningococcal meningitis. Syndromic types of deafness accounted for 12 cases. The most common factors associated with the aetiology of profound sensori-neural deafness in Sudanese children were consanguinity, infectious diseases and ototoxic drugs. Measures such as genetic counseling, control of infectious diseases, vaccination, careful use and monitoring of ototoxic drugs should play an important role in the prevention and reduction of the incidence of profound sensorineural deafness in the community