Prevalence Of Bilateral Hearing Loss Research Articles

The influence of occupational noise exposure on blood pressure and hearing loss among female workers of childbearing age

ObjectivesWomen exposed to occupational noise experience adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, we initiated a large, population-based, cross-sectional study to further investigate the effects of occupational noise on hearing and blood pressure among female workers of childbearing age.Study design and settingA total of 6981 childbearing-aged female workers were selected for this cross-sectional study. Basic characteristics of participants were analyzed by comparing the exposed and control groups. Logistic regression models were employed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidences intervals (CIs) for the associations of occupational noise with levels of hearing loss and blood pressure. The associations were further explored through stratification by age and duration of noise exposure.ResultsCompared with participants not exposed to occupational noise, increasing years of occupational noise exposure were independently associated with an elevated risk of hypertension after adjustment of age, industry classification, enterprise size and economic type. Compared to participants not exposed to occupational noise, only the prevalence of bilateral hearing loss was significantly higher after adjustments for age, industry classification, enterprise size and economic type. Compared with those with normal hearing, the ORs and 95% CIs were 1.97 (0.95–4.07), 2.22 (1.05–4.68) and 1.29 (1.06–1.57) for bilateral, unilateral and any ear hearing loss, respectively.ConclusionsOccupational noise exposure is positively associated with both hypertension and bilateral hearing loss among female workers of childbearing age. Those exposed to occupational noise show an increased risk of hypertension after adjusting for potential confounders.

Association of noise exposure, plasma microRNAs with metabolic syndrome and its components among Chinese adults

AimsWe aimed to evaluate the association of occupational noise with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, and to assess the potential role of miRNAs in occupational noise-associated MetS. MethodsA total of 854 participants were enrolled in our study. Cumulative noise exposure (CNE) was estimated in conjunction with workplace noise test records and research participants' employment histories. Logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to assess the association of CNE and miRNAs with MetS and its components. ResultsWe observed linear positive dose-response associations between occupational noise exposure and the prevalence of MetS (OR: 1.031; 95 % CI: 1.008, 1.055). And linear and nonlinear relationship were also found for the association of occupational noise exposure with high blood pressure (OR: 1.024; 95 % CI: 1.007, 1.041) and reduced high-density lipoprotein (OR: 1.051; 95 % CI: 1.031, 1.072), respectively. MiR-200a-3p, miR-92a-3p and miR-21-5p were inversely associated with CNE, or the prevalence of MetS and its components (all P < 0.05). However, we did not find any statistically significant mediation effect of miRNAs in the associations of CNE with MetS. Furthermore, the prevalence of bilateral hearing loss in high-frequency increased (OR: 1.036; 95 % CI: 1.008, 1.067) with CNE level rising, and participants with bilateral hearing loss in high-frequency had a significantly higher risk of MetS (OR: 1.727; 95 % CI: 1.048, 2.819). ConclusionOur study suggests that occupational noise exposure is associated with MetS and its components, and the role of miRNAs in noise-induced increasing MetS risk needs to be confirmed in future studies.

Population Based Study and Global Estimates of Hearing Impairment in Schoolchildren

Hearing impairments in schoolchildren affects learning and communication. Reliable data on hearing loss prevalence in this group are necessary for planning the audiological care. Aim. To compare data from a population based study of the hearing loss prevalence in schoolchildren and estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in the Republic of Yemen. Materials and methods. Data extraction was performed from the GBD database on the prevalence of bilateral hearing loss &gt;20 dB among children aged 5–9 years in the Republic of Yemen. A two stage study of hearing loss prevalence among primary school students aged 6–9 years in Sana’a, Republic of Yemen, in a sample of 2200 children using screening audiometry at 20 dB at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz is school settings, followed by tonal threshold audiometry and tympanometry in a specialized clinic. Hearing loss was assessed as unilateral or bilateral when hearing thresholds were higher than 25 dB. Results. According to GBD estimates, bilateral hearing impairment in this population is 2.2%, including 1.4% of mild degree. According to the results of a Yemenian population study, mild and moderate hearing impairment was detected in 10.6%, of which 6.8% – unilateral, 3.8% – bilateral hearing loss. There were no cases of severe or profound hearing loss. The prevalence of otitis media with effusion was 6%, chronic suppurative otitis media – 1.8%, sensorineural hearing loss – 1.6%. Conclusion. Bilateral hearing impairments occur in 2.2–3.8% of primary school students, with unilateral impairments the prevalence is up to 10.6%. Of these, at least 65% have conductive hearing loss due to pathology of the middle ear. The data obtained will improve the efficiency of ear and hearing care for schoolchildren.

Prevalence of hearing loss in schoolchildren: populational study and global estimates

Introduction. Hearing impairments in schoolchildren affects learning and communication. Reliable data on hearing loss prevalence in this group are necessary for planning the audiological care.Aim. To compare data from a population-based study of the hearing loss prevalence in schoolchildren and estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in the Republic of Yemen.Materials and methods. Data extraction was performed from the GBD database on the prevalence of bilateral hearing loss &gt;20 dB among children aged 5–9 years in the Republic of Yemen. A two-stage study of hearing loss prevalence among primary school students aged 6–9 years in Sana’a, Republic of Yemen, in a sample of 2200 children using screening audiometry at 20 dB at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz is school settings, followed by tonal threshold audiometry and tympanometry in a specialized clinic. Hearing loss was assessed as unilateral or bilateral when hearing thresholds were higher than 25 dB.Results. According to GBD estimates, bilateral hearing impairment in this population is 2.2%, including 1.4% of mild degree. According to the results of a Yemenian population study, mild and moderate hearing impairment was detected in 10.6%, of which 6.8% – unilateral, 3.8% – bilateral hearing loss. There were no cases of severe or profound hearing loss. The prevalence of otitis media with effusion was 6%, chronic suppurative otitis media – 1.8%, sensorineural hearing loss – 1.6%.Conclusion. Bilateral hearing impairments occur in 2.2–3.8% of primary school students, with unilateral impairments the prevalence is up to 10.6%. Of these, at least 65% have conductive hearing loss due to pathology of the middle ear. The data obtained will improve the efficiency of ear and hearing care for schoolchildren.

Audiometric findings in children with unilateral enlarged vestibular aqueduct

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of bilateral hearing loss in children with unilateral enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) at a single institution. MethodsA retrospective case review was performed at a tertiary care pediatric referral center involving children with radiologic findings of unilateral EVA and normal labyrinthine anatomy of the contralateral ear diagnosed via CT and/or MRI. The main outcome measure of interest is the number of patients with unilateral EVA who were diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss. ResultsSixty-one pediatric patients were identified. The mean audiometric follow-up was 48.2 months (0–150). Three (4.9%) patients with unilateral EVA were noted to have bilateral hearing loss, and this rate was not significantly different (p = 1.0) from the rate reported in a comparison group of patients with contralateral hearing loss (6.0%) without an EVA. The pure-tone average (defined as the average dB HL at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz) in the group with bilateral hearing loss was 31.3 dB HL in the better hearing ear and 79.6 dB HL in the worse hearing ear, with the difference being statistically significant (p = 0.02). In the unilateral EVA patients without contralateral hearing loss (n = 56, 91.8%), the PTA was 9.4 dB HL in the better hearing ear and 51.9 dB HL in the worse hearing ear, with the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.001). Two patients (3.3%) with unilateral EVA were found to have hearing within normal limits bilaterally. The EVA was ipsilateral to the worse hearing ear in all cases. ConclusionThe prevalence of bilateral hearing loss in children with unilateral EVA appears to be low. Specifically, it may be no different than the rate of contralateral hearing loss in children with unilateral hearing loss without an EVA. The present report is somewhat different than the previously described prevalence in the literature. This difference could be related to the imaging type and diagnostic criteria used, the patients included, the source of the identified patents, and the overall population of patients studied.

Tracking Population Health Based on Self-reported Impairments: Trends in the Prevalence of Hearing Loss in US Adults, 1976-2006

Trends in the prevalence of hearing loss among US adults remain ambiguous because of variation across surveys in question wording and limited use of audiometric examinations. Pooling samples of participants aged 20-69 years in 4 nationally representative cross-sectional survey series conducted from 1976 to 2006 (N = 990,609), the authors performed logistic regression to quantify self-reporting biases compared with audiometric measurements. Statistically significant underreporting or overreporting of hearing loss was observed, with various patterns of bias across age groups and surveys. Substantial upward reporting biases appeared among young adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey since 1999 and in the National Health Interview Survey since 1997. Trends in age-standardized prevalence of bilateral hearing loss were estimated with corrections for self-reporting biases. Prevalence in men shifted from 9.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.8, 11.8) in 1978 to 12.2% (95% CI: 10.1, 14.7) in 1993 and declined to 8.1% (95% CI: 7.0, 9.5) in 2000. In women, prevalence was relatively constant at approximately 6%-7% until the early 1990s and decreased from 7.0% (95% CI: 5.5, 9.1) in 1993 to 4.2% (95% CI: 3.4, 5.3) in 2000. Prevalence was stable in both sexes in the early 2000s. This approach to adjust for biases in self-reported impairments by using measured performance may be useful in various health domains.

Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with Ménière's disease.

To estimate the prevalence of hypothyroidism in a population of patients with Ménière's disease (MD). Retrospective case-control study comparing the use of thyroid hormone supplements between patients with MD and controls. Outpatient neurology clinic specializing in the management of patients experiencing dizziness. Fifty patients who met the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology criteria for MD and 50 controls matched for age and sex also experiencing dizziness. The 50 patients who met the criteria for MD were identified from a database of more than 2000 patients with dizziness seen over a 5-year period. Of these, 16 (32%) were taking thyroid hormone supplements in contrast to 2 (4%) of the 50 matched controls (P<.001). The median age of the patients with MD was 60 years, and 5 (19%) of the 26 patients younger than 60 years were taking thyroid hormone supplements, compared with 11 (46%) of 24 patients 60 years or older (P<.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the severity of hearing loss, pattern of hearing loss, or prevalence of bilateral hearing loss between patients with MD who were taking thyroid hormone supplements and patients with MD who were not. Ménière's disease is associated with corrected hypothyroidism.

Aetiological investigations of hearing loss in childhood: a review.

Advances in genetics, improvements in neonatal intensive care and the introduction of universal immunisation programmes have resulted in major changes in the epidemiology of hearing loss in children. Perinatal factors now account for 27% of the child population with hearing loss, compared to 2% about 25 years ago. 1 In the UK, the prevalence of hearing impairment in children with a history of treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit has increased fourfold over a period of 15 years, 2 and is higher than in other European countries. 3 A combination of neonatal intensive care unit status, family history of hearing loss and craniofacial abnormality noticeable at birth may account for up to 64% of all types of hearing loss. 2 The overall prevalence of bilateral hearing loss in children is estimated to be between 0.5/1000 live births 4 to 1.2/1000 2 and up to 2.1/1000 5 in different studies, depending on factors such as methods of hearing loss ascertainment, degree of hearing loss targeted, geographical area and time period of the study. Investigation of the hearing impaired child aims to identify the cause of the hearing loss and to provide information relevant to hearing loss management, coexisting medical problems and prognosis for the child and the family. In addition, these investigations may also help to clarify phenotypes in genetic hearing loss and to provide a more accurate picture of epidemiology, which is necessary for planning effective hearing loss prevention and surveillance programmes. The objective of this paper is to review the current literature on this topic and to assist the clinician in devising an investigative plan for this population.