MULTIDIMENSIONAL CARE FOR CHILDREN'S HEARING HEALTH IN THE SUS: EVIDENCE FROM AN AMBULATORY SERVICE IN SANTA CATARINA

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing plays a fundamental role in child development, directly influencing language acquisition, social interactions, and understanding of the surrounding environment. In this context, hearing impairment is a significant disorder, affecting more than 34 million children and adolescents worldwide. Objective: To conduct a longitudinal analysis of audiological data from children and adolescents evaluated at an Outpatient Hearing Health Service in 2018 and followed up for four years through annual outpatient consultations. Method: This is a retrospective study involving children and adolescents aged 0 to 12 years who underwent initial evaluation for hearing loss investigation and were subsequently followed up in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) from January 2018 to December 2022. Results: Data from 127 participants (51.20% female and 48.80% male), with a mean age of 20 months, were evaluated. Among them, 60.62% received a diagnosis of hearing impairment, with sensorineural hearing loss being the most frequent form (59.1%). It was also observed that 43.40% presented with pre-lingual hearing loss, while 26.80% remained in an intensive care unit at birth. Regarding auditory rehabilitation, 37.00% were candidates for bilateral fitting of a hearing aid, with class A being the most prevalent (15.70%). Conclusion: A high prevalence of hearing impairment was found in the analyzed population, highlighting significant impacts on child development. Given this scenario, the need for the implementation and strengthening of public policies aimed at the studied population is emphasized.