SCREENING OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT AND ASSOCIATED EFFECTS ON ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOUR IN ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Although an increase in the prevalence of hearing impairment in adults with Downs syndrome is accepted, satisfactory research data is lacking. This study investigated hearing impairment in 201 Down syndrome adults. Twenty-eight percent had some evidence of hearing impairment with 12% evidence of moderate to severe impairment. Hearing impairment was found to be related to age and the presence of cerumen. The detrimental effects of impaired hearing acuity on adaptive behaviour were demonstrated. Recommendations for healthcare services are discussed.