WHO Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey in four provinces in China

Abstract

AbstractObjective: To investigate the population based prevalence of ear diseases and hearing impairment in Jiangsu, Sichuan, Guizhou and Jilin Provinces in China, develop strategies to provide scientific data for the global database and to draw up prevention and intervention strategies. Methods: Using the WHO Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol and the probability proportion to size (PPS) sampling technique, 30,733 residents were targeted for investigation in 150 clusters in four provinces. Every subject had an ear examination and pure tone audiometry. Definitions of disabling hearing loss and the classification of hearing impairment used were in accordance with WHO recommendations. Results: Among 30,733 targeted residents, 29,246 individuals (95.2%) participated in the survey. One thousand, three hundred and sixty individuals (4.4%) were absent; 127 individuals (0.4%) refused. The prevalences of hearing impairment and disabling hearing impairment were 14.2% and 5.2% of investigated individuals, re...