청각장애는 2015년 등록된 15가지 장애유형 중 지체장애, 시 각장애, 뇌병변 장애에 이어 253,334(10.1%)명으로 네 번째의 빈도를 보이는 장애였으나, 최근 2016년에는 지체장애에 이어 271,843(10.8%)명으로 두 번째의 빈도를 보이는 장애로 보고되었 다(Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2016a; Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2017). 또한 청각장애는 지적장애, 지체장애, 자폐 성 장애, 발달지체에 이어 다섯 번째로 높은 특수교육 대상자 로 분류되고 있다. 현재 우리나라의 특수교육 인원의 총 대상 자는 87,950명이고 그중 청각장애 특수교육 대상자 수는 총 3,401(3.9%)명이다.
Purpose: The purpose of was to assess the hearing impairment status, investigate the situation of aural rehabilitation service, and improve the communicational environment of Sungsim Deaf Rehabilitation Center. Methods: The total members who participated were 58 (mean age: 14.72, age range: 7-36), with 35 males and 23 females. Out of 58 members, only 52 were fitted with hearing devices and 13 had multiple disabilities. Otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, functional gain test, and International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA) were performed. Speech recognition threshold (SRT) and word recognition score (WRS) were measured in the sound field with operating hearing devices. Results: Both of otoscopic examination and tympanometry showed normal at 105 ears (91%). PTA for air conduction thresholds were 109.81 and 110.34 dB HL at right and left ears. Functional gain values were 52.14 dB in a total average of 52 members. According to type of hearing devices, 72.16 dB for cochlear implanted unilaterally (19), 69.03 dB for cochlear implanted bilaterally (3), 61.68 dB for bimodal fitting (6), 32.73 dB for hearing aided unilaterally (6) 32.04 dB for hearing aided bilaterally (18) were revealed in order. The SRT and WRS were 52.41 dB HL and 35%. IOI-HA scores of each item was 3.81 in average showing good satisfaction level of the hearing devices. Conclusion: Conclusively, the fitting status of hearing devices was not sufficient to understand speech sound although their external and middle ears were in good condition. Improving and refitting their hearing devices were recommended and periodical monitoring of hearing and hearing devices were thought to be necessary.
INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS RESULTS DISCUSSIONS REFERENCES
