Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome-Related Hearing Loss and Language Development Delay: The Shadow Effect of a Multilingual Environment

Abstract

A case of a child raised in a multilingual environment presenting with bilateral sudden hearing loss is reported. The patient was diagnosed with Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome following examination and investigations. A delay in speech development relative to the patient’s age raised the suspicion that the hearing loss might have started earlier and recently progressed. However, it is noteworthy that when the patient was previously evaluated for speech delay, an audiological examination was deemed unnecessary, as the delay was attributed to multilingualism. This case highlights that speech delays in children growing up in multilingual environments may mask hearing loss and complicate diagnosis. It underscores the importance of early diagnosis and intervention to support language and hearing health.

Keywords

• bilateral hearing loss
• sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• pediatric sudden hearing loss
• enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome
• multilingualism

Geniş Vestibüler Akuadukt Sendromu Kaynaklı İşitme Kaybı ve Dil Gelişim Geriliğinde Çok Dilli Ortamın Gölge Etkisi

Abstract

Çift taraflı ani işitme kaybı klinik tablosuyla başvuran çok dilli bir ortamda yetişmekte olan çocuk olgusu sunulmuştur. Muayene ve tetkik sonucunda Geniş Vestibüler Akuadukt Sendromu (GVAS) tanısı konulan hastanın yaşına göre konuşmada gerilik tespit edilmesi işitme kaybının daha önceden başlayıp son günlerde progresyon göstermiş olabileceği şüphesini doğurmuştur. Ancak hastanın daha önce konuşmada gecikme nedeniyle hekime başvurduğunda çok dillilikten kaynaklı gecikmenin normal olduğu düşüncesiyle odyolojik incelemeye gerek görülmemiş olması dikkat çekicidir. Bu olgu, çok dilli bir ortamda büyüyen çocuklarda konuşma gecikmelerinin işitme kaybını maskeleyebileceği ve tanıyı zorlaştırabileceği, dil ve işitme sağlığını desteklemek için erken tanı ve müdahalenin önemini bir kez daha ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

• bilateral işitme kaybı
• ani sensörinöral işitme kaybı
• pediatrik ani işitme kaybı
• geniş vestibüler akuadukt sendromu
• çok dillilik

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