Childhood deafness in Australia

Abstract

A survey of children born between 1949 . and 1980 who are known to have been fitted with hearing aids in Australia by the age of 18 years reveals a ratio of 2.605 cases for every 1000 live births. This incidence of childhood deafness is higher than previously reported, as a result of the greater number of birth years considered. Approximately 41.2% of these children have severe or profound:dpfness.A history of maternal rubella was reported in 11.06% of .cases, but a significant reduction in the number of . reported rubella cases after 1976 has led to correspondingly fewer diagnoses of severely and profoundly deaf children.