A Pilot Study of the Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objective: To determine the occurrence of peripheral hearing loss and autism spectrum disorder in children enrolled in special education schools. Methods: Twenty-two children diagnosed with ASD, confirmed by developmental medicine, were recruited from a special ASD school. Each participant underwent audiological testing: transient otoacoustic emission and impedance audiometry were used. Results: The 22 participants were all boys, aged from 7 to 15 years, with mean ± 10.63 years and SD 2.4 years. TOAE was present in both ears in five ASD children, but it was absent in one or both ears in the remaining 17 participants. Seventeen of the 22 participants had type B and C tympanogram and an absence of TOAEs. Conclusion: Children with ASD are at risk of peripheral hearing loss, due to middle ear problems. A complete audiological evaluation is recommended in all cases where ASD is suspected, so as not to delay diagnosis of hearing impairment in the event that hearing loss and ASD co-exist. Objective assessment measurements should be used to assess the auditory system in ASD children.