Aims: To examine the uptake of relevant hospital services by families with dea f children and to compare use of these services between Pakistani and white fami lies. Methods: A total of 214 deaf children with amplification aids who attended their paediatric outpatient and school medical appointments from October 2000 t o March 2003 were studied in an observational cohort study. Results: The demogra phic profile of both the Pakistani and white families was similar. Pakistani chi ldren had a statistically significant excess of the following risk factors: cons anguineous marriages (86.4%Pakistani, 1.5%white), family history of deafness ( 66.4%Pakistani, 38.8%white), and family size (birth order >5: 12.8%Pakistani: 4.5%white). White children were more likely to have had post-meningitis deafn ess (1.4%Pakistani, 13.4%white) and congenital infections, or have dysmorphic features (5.0%Pakistani, 13.4%white). Overall the uptake of relevant hospital services by Pakistani and white families was very similar irrespective of an ear ly or late diagnosis. There was an increased likelihood of white families declin ing cochlear implantation (17.6%Pakistani, 75.0%white). Conclusions: This stud y did not show significant differences in hospital service uptake despite differ ent risk profiles for childhood deafness for both Pakistani and white families i n Bradford. Among specialist services offered, cochlear implantation was more li kely to be accessed by Pakistani families.
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