Audiometric analysis of type and degree of hearing impairment and its demographic correlation: A retrospective study

Abstract

Background: This retrospective study was done to know the demographic characteristics of patients suffering from hearing loss. The type and degree of hearing impairment were correlated with the demographic characteristics. Aims and Objectives: (1) To establish the type and degree of hearing loss in patients (2) evaluate age and gender-wise differences with respect to type and degree of hearing loss. (3) Correlate age of a patient with degree of hearing impairment. Materials and Methods: Audiometric data of 252 patients were taken. Demographic characteristics were compared with types and degrees of hearing impairment. Results: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) type was the highest with 163 (66.5%) out of 252 cases. Males were more affected by SNHL, mixed and conductive types. In the SNHL category, the highest number of cases belonged to the 51-60 yeas age group (24.5%) whereas in the conductive and mixed types of hearing loss, the maximum patients were found in the 21-30 age group (51.5% and 25.6% respectively). Least number of cases was in the age groups of 1-10 years followed by 81-90 years. Bilateral impairment was more than unilateral impairment. Conclusion: Our study concludes that men are more affected than women, bilateral involvement is more common than unilateral, and SNHL type is the most common type of hearing impairment.