Prevalence Of Hearing Impairment Research Articles

Effectiveness of Video-Assisted Teaching on Adolescents\' Awareness of Earphone Health Hazards and Hearing Impairment Prevalence

Abstract: Background: Hearing impairment is common in adolescents and young adults exposing themselves to loud noise or music through the use of earphones for a long period of time. If the risky patterns of exposure are not being monitored by themselves to the proper extent may lead to noised induced hearing loss in the latter part of their life. Few years ago, the scope of using earphones was less, nowadays the scope of such use has increased to a great extent. Earphones are not only used for listening to recreational music, but also to hear audio-books, online videos, and online educational programs. Methodology: using Pre experimental one group pretest post- test research design. A total of 54 subjects were selected for study by using convenient sampling technique. Self-structured questionnaire was used as a tool. Results: The result of the study revealed that in pretest regarding knowledge of earphone usage 22(40.74%) had inadequate knowledge, 12(22.22%) had adequate knowledge and 10(37.04%) had moderately adequate knowledge with mean and SD of 6.01±18.70 whereas in post-test 49(90.74%) had adequate knowledge and 5(9.26%) had moderately adequate knowledge with mean and SD of 1.54±1.02, mean difference score was 2.69 and the calculated ‘t’ value is t=15.522. In pretest regarding practice of earphone usage 41(75.93%) had inadequate practice, 9(16.66%) had moderately adequate practice and 4(7.41%) had adequate practice with mean and SD of 4.46±1.79 whereas in post-test 25(46.30%) had adequate practice, 24(44.44%) had moderately adequate practice and 5(9.26%) had inadequate practice with mean and SD of 7.00±1.28, mean difference score was 2.53 and the calculated‘t’ value is t=8.846. Conclusion: Study concluded that the Video Assisted Teaching was effective in improving the knowledge and practice regarding health hazards of earphone uses and prevalence of hearing impairment among nursing students

Prevalence of Hearing Impairment with Respect of Age and Gender in Patient with Otitis Media

Background: Otitis media, a common middle ear infection, is a significant health concern due to its potential to cause hearing impairment. This study focuses on examining the prevalence and types of hearing loss associated with otitis media in a pediatric population, with a specific emphasis on age and gender demographics. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of hearing impairment among patients with otitis media, considering the impact of age and gender. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over six months, from January to June 2023, at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. The study included 155 patients aged between 5 to 15 years, selected using a purposive sampling technique. Patients with other comorbid factors such as congenital syndromes and presbycusis were excluded to maintain data integrity. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, alongside diagnostic assessments including otoscopy, tympanometry, and pure tone audiometry. The collected data was then transferred to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 25.0, for processing and analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed to evaluate the data, with a focus on understanding the relationship between otitis media and hearing loss across different age groups and genders. Results: The demographic breakdown showed 58.1% (90) of patients aged 5-10 years and 41.9% (65) aged 11-15 years. Females represented 54.2% (84) of the participants, while males constituted 45.8% (71). The most common cause of otitis media was ear infection, accounting for 61.9% (96) of cases. The hearing loss analysis revealed that 70.3% of right ears and 81.9% of left ears had some form of hearing impairment. Conductive hearing loss was the most frequently observed type, affecting 65 right ears and 82 left ears. Conclusion: This study underscores the significant prevalence of hearing loss among pediatric patients with otitis media, particularly conductive hearing loss. There was a higher incidence of hearing loss in the left ear and a notable predominance among younger children. These findings highlight the need for early detection and intervention strategies in this demographic.

Prevalence of Hearing Impairment Among Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with varied manifestations, including potential auditory complications. Previous studies have indicated varying prevalence rates of hearing impairment among SLE patients, necessitating further research to understand the extent and nature of these auditory issues. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics of hearing impairment in SLE patients, with a focus on identifying the types and degrees of hearing loss and associated symptoms like tinnitus and vertigo. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study involved 38 SLE patients from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, and DHQ Hospital, Bhimber, Kashmir. Participants underwent pure tone audiometry (PTA) to assess hearing impairment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0, with a focus on qualitative variables like gender, education, and socio-economic status. Patients with SLE-associated co-morbid factors affecting hearing were excluded. Results: The study found a 29% prevalence of hearing impairment among SLE patients, with sensorineural hearing loss being the most common type (21.1%). Conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss were observed in 2.6% and 5.3% of patients, respectively. The majority of hearing impairments were of mild to moderate degree. Additionally, 23.7% of patients reported tinnitus, and 18.45% experienced vertigo. Conclusion: The study concludes that hearing impairment, particularly sensorineural hearing loss of a mild to moderate degree, is a significant concern in SLE patients. The findings highlight the need for routine audiological assessments, including PTA and High Frequency Audiometry (HFA), in the management of SLE patients to facilitate early detection and treatment of hearing loss.

Residential proximity to major roadways and hearing impairment in Chinese older adults: a population-based study

BackgroundWith rapid urban sprawl, growing people are living in the vicinity of major roadways. However, little is known about the relationship between residential proximity to major roadways and hearing impairment (HI).MethodsWe derived data from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, and included 13,775 participants aged 65 years or older. Multivariate logistic regressions were employed to examine the association between residential proximity to major roadways and HI. The effects of corresponding potentially modifiable factors were studied by three-way interaction analyses. Sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the results.ResultsThe prevalence of HI was 38.3%. Participants living near major roadways were more likely to have a higher socioeconomic status. An exposure-response relation between residential proximity to major roadways and HI was observed (Ptrend < 0.05). Compared with individuals living > 300 m away from major roadways, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) were 1.07 (95% CI: 0.96–1.24), 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07–1.34), and 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01–1.31) for those living 101–200 m, 50–100 m, and < 50 m away from the roadways, respectively. Particularly, the association was more pronounced among individuals exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) pollution or opening windows frequently (Pinteraction < 0.05). Three-way interaction analyses confirmed that participants exposed to CO pollution and frequently leaving windows open had the highest OR of 1.73 (95% CI: 1.58–1.89).ConclusionsThis nation-wide cohort study suggested that residential proximity to major roadways was significantly associated with an increased exposure-response risk of HI in Chinese older adults. Exposure to CO pollution and opening windows frequently might strengthen the relations.

Neonatal hearing screening - does failure in TEOAE screening matter when the AABR test is passed?

PurposeNewborns who fail the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) but pass the automatic auditory brainstem response (AABR) in universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), frequently have no further diagnostic test or follow-up. The present study aimed to investigate whether hearing loss might be missed by ignoring neonatal TEOAE failure in the presence of normal AABR.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted in newborns presenting between 2017 and 2021 to a tertiary referral centre due to failure in the initial UNHS. The main focus was on infants who failed TEOAE tests, but passed AABR screening. The clinical characteristics and audiometric outcomes were analysed and compared with those of other neonates.ResultsAmong 1,095 referred newborns, 253 (23%) failed TEOAE despite passing AABR screening. Of the 253 affected infants, 154 returned for follow-up. At 1-year follow-up, 46 (28%) achieved normal audiometric results. 32 (21%) infants had permanent hearing loss (HL) confirmed by diagnostic ABR, 58 (38%) infants had HL solely due to middle ear effusion (MEE), and for 18 (12%) infants HL was suspected without further differentiation. The majority of permanent HL was mild (78% mild vs. 13% moderate vs. 9% profound). The rate of spontaneous MEE clearance was rather low (29%) leading to early surgical intervention in 36 children. The profile of the risk factors for hearing impairment was similar to that of newborns with failure in both, TEOAE and AABR; however, there was a stronger association between the presence of risk factors and the incidence of HL (relative risk 1.55 vs. 1.06; odds ratio 3.61 vs. 1.80).ConclusionIn newborns, the discordance between a “refer” in TEOAE and a “pass” in AABR screening is associated with a substantial prevalence of hearing impairment at follow-up, especially in the presence of risk factors.

Accuracy and Use of the Reflexive Behavioral (“Baah”) Test and Risk Factor Questionnaire for Hearing Screening in Infants Six Months Old and Below

Objective. To determine the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and use of the Reflexive Behavioral “Baah” Test and NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires in detecting hearing impairment in rural health communities.Methods. This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the rural health unit of five municipalities. Infants less than six months old were screened for hearing impairments using the OAE device (standard), the Reflexive Behavioral “Baah” test, and the NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires. The “Baah” test and the filling out of the NHSRC Level 1 and 2 Questionnaires were done by trained health workers while OAE was done by an audiologist.Results. A total of 103 babies, with a mean age of 41.9 days at the time of testing and a male to female ratio of 1.02:1 (52 males and 51 females) were tested. A hearing impairment prevalence of 4.9% (5 out of 103) was noted. The “Baah” test showed to have a sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 97.96% and an accuracy rate of 96.12%. The NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires showed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rate of 40%, 67.35% and 66.02%, respectively for the former and 40%, 85.71% and 83.50%, respectively for the latter. Analysis of the complimentary use of the NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires with the “Baah” test also showed no significant improvement to using the “Baah” test as a stand-alone screening tool with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 60%, 67.35% and 66.99%, respectively for the “Baah” test and Level 1 Questionnaire, and 60%, 83.67% and 82.52%, respectively for the “Baah” test and Level 2 Questionnaire.Conclusion. The Reflexive Behavioral “Baah” test is a potentially accurate, sensitive, specific, and acceptable standalone hearing screening test to identify infants with higher risk of hearing impairment in the rural health community setting. On the other hand, the use of the NHSRC Questionnaires as a stand-alone or complementary tool for “Baah” is unnecessary as it results to more false positive and false negative results.&#x0D;

Hearing Loss Prevalence, Years Lived With Disability, and Hearing Aid Use in the United States From 1990 to 2019: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study.

This article describes key data sources and methods used to estimate hearing loss in the United States, in the Global Burden of Disease study. Then, trends in hearing loss are described for 2019, including temporal trends from 1990 to 2019, changing prevalence over age, severity patterns, and utilization of hearing aids. We utilized population-representative surveys from the United States to estimate hearing loss prevalence for the Global Burden of Disease study. A key input data source in modeled estimates are the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), years 1988 to 2010. We ran hierarchical severity-specific models to estimate hearing loss prevalence. We then scaled severity-specific models to sum to total hearing impairment prevalence, adjusted estimates for hearing aid coverage, and split estimates by etiology and tinnitus status. We computed years lived with disability (YLDs), which quantifies the amount of health loss associated with a condition depending on severity and creates a common metric to compare the burden of disparate diseases. This was done by multiplying the prevalence of severity-specific hearing loss by corresponding disability weights, with additional weighting for tinnitus comorbidity. An estimated 72.88 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 68.53 to 77.30) people in the United States had hearing loss in 2019, accounting for 22.2% (20.9 to 23.6) of the total population. Hearing loss was responsible for 2.24 million (1.56 to 3.11) YLDs (3.6% (2.8 to 4.7) of total US YLDs). Age-standardized prevalence was higher in males (17.7% [16.7 to 18.8]) compared with females (11.9%, [11.2 to 12.5]). While most cases of hearing loss were mild (64.3%, 95% UI 61.0 to 67.6), disability was concentrated in cases that were moderate or more severe. The all-age prevalence of hearing loss in the United States was 28.1% (25.7 to 30.8) higher in 2019 than in 1990, despite stable age-standardized prevalence. An estimated 9.7% (8.6 to 11.0) of individuals with mild to profound hearing loss utilized a hearing aid, while 32.5% (31.9 to 33.2) of individuals with hearing loss experienced tinnitus. Occupational noise exposure was responsible for 11.2% (10.2 to 12.4) of hearing loss YLDs. Results indicate large burden of hearing loss in the United States, with an estimated 1 in 5 people experiencing this condition. While many cases of hearing loss in the United States were mild, growing prevalence, low usage of hearing aids, and aging populations indicate the rising impact of this condition in future years and the increasing importance of domestic access to hearing healthcare services. Large-scale audiometric surveys such as NHANES are needed to regularly assess hearing loss burden and access to healthcare, improving our understanding of who is impacted by hearing loss and what groups are most amenable to intervention.

Association between Hyperuricemia and Hearing Impairment: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background and Objectives: Hyperuricemia is associated with a variety of comorbidities. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between hyperuricemia and hearing impairment in Korean adults. Materials and Methods: Audiometric and laboratory test data from the 2019 to 2020 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used for analysis. Hearing impairment was defined as a pure-tone average (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz) threshold level ≥ 41 decibels. The definition of hyperuricemia was different for males and females: >7 mg/dL for males vs. >6 mg/dL for females. Results: A total of 4857 (weight n = 17,990,725) subjects were analyzed. The mean age was 56.8 years old. The weighted prevalence was 12.1% for hyperuricemia and 2.5% for gout. The prevalence of hearing impairment was 13.4%. In the univariable analysis, hyperuricemia was significantly associated with hearing impairment. However, the diagnosis of gout was not associated with hearing impairment. In the multivariable analysis, hyperuricemia (odds ratios (OR): 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.92, p = 0.030) was associated with hearing impairment along with age (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.10-1.14, p < 0.001), female sex (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.34-0.64, p < 0.001), education (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.30-0.63, p = 0.001), and occupational noise exposure (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.25-2.22, p = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, hyperuricemia was associated with hearing impairment in females (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.48, p = 0.041) and the elderly aged 60 years or more (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.05-1.99, p = 0.023). Conclusions: Hyperuricemia was independently associated with hearing impairment, especially in females and the elderly aged 60 years or more.

Risk Factors For Treatment-Induced Hearing Impairment: Perspective From A Resource-Poor African Setting

Background - Treatment-induced hearing impairment can result from prolonged administration of potentially ototoxic medications often in the pharmacotherapeutic management of chronic illnesses such as drug-resistant tuberculosis. Whereas drug ototoxicity may be idiosyncratic, it is imperative to be aware of its potential risk factors while treating patients. We aimed in our study to identify risks factors for hearing impairment in patients treated for drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis at our Centre. Patients and methods – This study was a 24-month prospective study of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients treated at the pulmonology unit of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria. Each patient had pure tone audiometry before commencement of treatment (baseline) and after three months of treatment for comparison. Clinical data was obtained using pre-tested examiner-administered questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed with SPSS version 25.0 and statistical significance set at p &lt; 0.05. Results - Thirty-eight (38) participants completed the study with a male-to-female (M:F) ratio of 1.53:1. The modal age group was 41-50 years and median duration of presenting complaints 9.9 weeks. HIV seroprevalence was 18.4% among the study participants. The baseline prevalence of hearing impairment was 73.7% but increased to 89.5% after three months of treatment with a cumulative incidence of 15.8% which was statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001). The identified risk factors for hearing impairment were age (&gt;50 years), family history of hearing impairment, kanamycin administration and BMI &lt;18.5kg/m2 . Conclusion – Kanamycin was associated with more severe hearing impairment than capreomycin. Advancing age, family history of hearing impairment and BMI &lt; 18.5kg/m2 were risk factors for development of hearing impairment in patients treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis in our setting.

Socioeconomic Inequality in Hearing Impairment Among Working-Age Australians: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses.

The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial and temporal association between socioeconomic gradient in hearing impairment among working-age Australians. We modeled the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between individual- and area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and hearing impairment among working-age Australians using longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey for 10,719 working-age adults aged between 15 and 64 years surveyed between 2008 and 2018. Associations between self-reported hearing impairment and education, income, employment status, and area-level SES were estimated using a multivariate logistic regression model and Cox proportional hazards regression, controlling for age, sex, and a range of other sociodemographic factors. Among 10,719 participants, the prevalence of hearing impairment was higher among individuals with lower income, occupational status and socioeconomic disadvantage. The odds ratio (OR) of those with the lowest income quintile versus highest income quintile (OR = 2.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40 to 3.14); for blue-collar occupation versus white-collar (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.39 to 2.66) and most disadvantaged area quintile versus most advantaged area quintile (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.10 to 2.83) were associated with higher odds of prevalence of hearing impairment. For the 10,046 participants without hearing loss at baseline, income quintile 1 versus quintile 5 (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.33 to 1.56), ≤ year 11 versus ≥ bachelor's degree (HR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.98-2.34) blue-collar occupation versus white collar (HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.25) and most disadvantaged area quintile versus most advantaged quintile (HR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.37 to 1.63) was positively associated with incident hearing impairment. Lower individual-level and area-level SES was associated with an increased risk of prevalence and incidence of hearing impairment among working-age Australians. These findings are particularly concerning since working-age Australians are mostly not eligible for socially subsidized hearing-related health care in Australia. This lack of access to affordable hearing services could exacerbate the negative consequences of hearing impairment and increase social inequality.

Audiometric Profile of Patients on Treatment for Drug-Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Owerri, South-East Nigeria.

Background: Tuberculosis is an existential medical challenge in certain parts of the world necessitating global efforts. Perhaps more challenging is the treatment of drug-resistant forms of the disease as this requires use of second line drugs, predominantly potentially ototoxic aminoglycosides. The hearing impairment so caused, besides constituting social disability, can impair compliance and have far-reaching consequences. This study aimed at assessing the hearing patterns of patients on treatment for drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis to determine if, and to what extent their treatment affected their hearing status. Patients and method: The study was an 18-month prospective analysis of consecutive newly diagnosed drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients in a tertiary hospital in Owerri, Nigeria. Baseline audiometry was conducted on the patients with subsequent monthly audiometry for 3 months during treatment. A control group drawn from normal population and matched for age and sex with the study group was recruited and audiometry performed on the participants in similar pattern. The audiometric patterns of both groups were analyzed and compared using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 software for Windows. Statistical significance was set at p&lt; 0.05. Results: Thirty-eight (38) patients treated for drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis completed the study alongside thirty-eight (38) control subjects with M:F ratio was 1.53:1. The baseline prevalence of hearing impairment of any sort was 73.7% and 68.4% among the test and control groups respectively, whereas after three months it was 89.5% and 68.4% respectively. The cumulative incidence of hearing loss over three months was 15.8% and 0% respectively. This difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis with second line drugs can lead to significant hearing impairment within the first three months of treatment.

The Prevalence of Hearing Impairments in Women with Silicone Breast Implants

Many women with silicone breast implants (SBIs) report non-specific complaints, including hearing impairments. Hearing impairment appears to be associated with a number of autoimmune conditions. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of hearing impairments among women with SBIs and to explore potential improvements in their hearing capability following implant removal. Symptomatic women with SBIs (n = 160) underwent an initial anamnestic interview, and women who reported hearing impairments were selected for the study. These women completed self-report telephone questionnaires regarding their hearing difficulties. Some of these women underwent subjective and objective hearing tests. Out of 159 (50.3%) symptomatic women with SBIs, 80 reported hearing impairments, including hearing loss (44/80; 55%) and tinnitus (45/80; 56.2%). Five out of seven (71.4%) women who underwent an audiologic evaluation exhibited hearing loss. Of women who underwent silicone implant removal, 27 out of 47 (57.4%) reported the improvement or resolution of their hearing complaints. In conclusion, hearing impairment is a frequent complaint among symptomatic women with SBIs, and tinnitus was found to be the most common complaint. A significant reduction in hearing difficulties was observed following silicone implant removal. Further studies using larger populations are needed to verify the occurrence of hearing impairments in these women.

Prevention of progressive hearing loss in a mouse model of diabetes by oral intake of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester

Background The prevalence of hearing impairment in patients with diabetes was significantly higher, and the development of preventive methods is desirable. Aims/objectives This study examined the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) administration on the prevention of early hearing loss in diabetic mice. Materials and methods Tsumura, Suzuki, Obese Diabetes (TSOD) mice were used as a model of diabetes and Tsumura, Suzuki, Non Obesity (TSNO) mice were used as controls. The animals were divided into three groups: the TSNO group and the TSOD (EPA−) group (provided sunflower oil), and the TSOD (EPA+) group (provided EPA). Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured and the cochlea was evaluated histologically. Results The TSOD (EPA+) group showed a lower tendency to increase thresholds than the TSOD (EPA−) group. The TSOD (EPA+) group had a significantly lower ABR threshold than the TSOD (EPA−) group from 11 to 14 months of age at 4 kHz. Narrowing of the capillary lumens in the stria vascularis and thickening of the vessel wall in the modiolus were observed in the TSOD (EPA−) group. Conclusions and significance It was suggested that the suppression of cochlear vascular atherosclerosis by EPA administration in TSOD mice suppressed early age-related hearing loss.

Neonatal hearing screening in Soba University Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHearing loss in children constitutes a serious obstacle to their optimal development; early detection of hearing disability is vital to improve the outcome of management; currently, in Sudan, there is no national neonatal hearing screening program. The aim of this study is to discuss the results of neonatal hearing screening among newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and well-baby nursery, at Soba University Hospital, Khartoum (Sudan), and to reflect the magnitude of risk factors for hearing impairment present in these two different groups of newborns.MethodsIn this hospital-based cross-sectional study, newborns who were admitted to the NICU or being observed in the well-baby nursery in the period from February 2014 to February 2019 were screened for hearing loss using automated otoacoustic emission (OAE) device after recording the risk factors for hearing loss according to the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) year 2007 position statement and after conducting a detailed ear and general physical examination. Newborns who failed this screening test were rescreened using the same device after 48 h, and if they failed again, they underwent confirmatory auditory brainstem response test when they are 6 months old.ResultsOne thousand one hundred twenty newborns were tested; 736 were NICU and 384 were well-baby nursery newborns. The prevalence of hearing impairment after confirmatory test was found to be 10.8 per 1000 in the NICU group and 5.2 per 1000 in the well-baby nursery group considering that the drop rate for the confirmatory test was 50% and 66% respectively which is very high and reflect the poor compliance to the program. The risk factors for hearing loss were more encountered in the NICU group compared to well-baby nursery group. Unmonitored ototoxic drug use was found to be very prevalent and need urgent reconsideration.ConclusionIn this study, the estimated prevalence of neonatal hearing impairment is alarming; risk factors are very evident especially in the NICU group; this reflect the urgent need for establishing an efficient national program for neonatal hearing screening and working to eliminate the preventable risk factors for neonatal hearing impairment in this developing country.

Comparison of Hearing Impairment among Healthy and High-risk Neonates at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rajasthan, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Hearing impairment is caused by damage in the inner ear (can be even birth defect), ear infection, ruptured eardrum and so on. It can be prevented using early detection thus, helps in avoiding severe psychosocial, educational, and linguistic repercussions. Infants, who are not diagnosed of hearing impairment before six months of age, will have delays in speech and language development. Aim: To determine the prevalence of hearing impairment in highrisk neonates and to establish the fact that, these neonates have higher prevalence of hearing impairment as compared to normal population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. The duration of the study was six months, from December 2012 to May 2013. A total of 500 babies including 297 normal and 203 high-risk babies were enrolled into the study. All the neonates were screened using Behavioural Observation Audiometry (BOA) and Distortion Product Oto-acoustic Emission (DPOAE) preferably within three days of life. Those, who failed under this test, underwent for Brain stem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA). Data was collected in the Microsoft Excel and analysis done by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. Results: The mean age of the newborns on admission, was 3.86±4.25 days and the mean weight was 2560±510 g. Out of 500 newborns screened, 58 babies had abnormal results with the first screening test. When these 58 babies subjected to BERA, eight babies showed Hearing Loss (HL). Sepsis, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay &gt;5 days and use of aminoglycosides &gt;7 days were the important risk factors associated with hearing impairment. Prevalence of hearing impairment in the present study was came out to be 16/1000. This finding was statistically significant with p-value&lt;0.05. Conclusion: There was high prevalence of hearing impairment in high-risk newborns, majority of which were bilateral. The authors recommend multistage screening in all newborns at birth or within month’s time at all level of healthcare facility. Newborns with sepsis, NICU stay &gt;5 days and use of aminoglycosides &gt;7 days should have mandatory audiologic evaluation at discharge.

Состояние слуховой функции у детей-воспитанников детских домов, эвакуированных из зоны военных действий

In this study, the structure and frequency of hearing impairment in children who lived at various times in the territories of military operations were studied. The high prevalence of otorhinolaryngological diseases, combined with low detectability, entails formidable complications, leads to a decrease in the quality of life of the child and the family as a whole, and negatively affects the general level of public health. In total, during the study, 398 children aged 5 to 16 years old were examined, who were in the temporary accommodation center of the Romashka children’s resting camp. The children are students of orphanages in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) evacuated from the war zone in the first days of the Special Operation. There were 216 girls (54.3%) and 182 boys (45.7%) among them. The average age of children was 8.5 years. Hearing loss was detected in 33 children (8.3%). Two children (0.5%) had a severe form of sensorineural hearing loss of 3–4 degrees. Two children (0.5%) had a mild form of sensorineural hearing loss of 1–2 degrees. Four children (1%) had unilateral chronic sensorineural hearing loss. The diagnosis of otitis media with effusion was established in 20 children (5%), tubo-otitis, in three patients (0.8%). Suspicion of an anomaly in the development of the middle ear, in 2 children (0.5%). Examination of children in orphanages evacuated from the DPR and LPR did not reveal a high prevalence of hearing impairment. Sensoneural hearing loss: 2%, conductive hearing loss: 6.3%. The results of the work demonstrate a wide potential for improving hearing health in the examined children. Active diagnostics of hearing pathology is shown to all children in orphanages. After treatment of conductive hearing pathology, mandatory audiological monitoring is indicated, despite the subjective improvement in hearing.

A Smartphone-Based Assessment of Hearing Impairment among Students of a Medical College, Delhi, India- A Cross-Sectional Study.

The burden of hearing impairment in India is substantially high, largely preventable, and avoidable. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment using a smartphone-based tool among medical students and to study the factors associated, including personal audio device usage in a medical college hospital in Delhi, India. We conducted a cross-sectional study among undergraduate medical students. The study participants were enrolled via. Stratified random sampling. We assessed hearing impairment via-HearWHO application with scores ranging from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100 with categorization into i) above 75 ii) 50-75 iii) below 50. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 96 study participants were included, with the mean age of study participants as 20.3±1.4 years. On assessment with HearWHO, 36 (37.5%) were in the category of score above 75, 51 (53.1%) in score category 50-75, and 9 (9.4%) in score below 50. The overall mean score of the hearing assessment was 68.9±13.4 (Range: 12 to 94). Among the earphone device users, 27.1% do not comply with volume alerts on user devices. Among the study population, 9.4% of the study participants were likely to be having hearing loss and 53.1% should be screened regularly for hearing impairment. Addressing hearing loss remains crucial among the young population, especially the medical professionals, which is feasible and imperative in the current scenario.

Prevalence of Hearing Impairment in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) may be a major health problem in modern society. The disease and its complications can affect most systems of the human body. A possible complication of DM is sensorineural deafness (SNHL). Objective: To find out the prevalence of different frequencies of hearing impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods: The study design was analytic cross-sectional. The data was collected from Hameed Latif and the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital. The study took 4 months (February 2022 to July 2022). The sample size was calculated at 325 based on the prevalence (69.73%) of sensorineural hearing loss in diabetic patients through an online sample size calculator (CI: 95% and margin of error=5.00%). The Sampling technique was Non-Probability Purposive Sampling. Data analysis was done by using SPSS Version 21.0 software. The sample-included patient diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), of both genders, aged 51-70 years, consented to inclusion in the study. Cases with external or middle ear diseases were excluded from the study. Results: The 325 diabetes mellitus patients comprised the study population, in which 36.6 % (n=119) patients had hearing loss on different frequencies, and 30.8% had mild to severe hearing loss on high frequencies. Conclusions: This study concludes that the prevalence of hearing impairment is high among patients with diabetes mellitus and has more effect on higher frequencies of hearing rather than mid and low frequencies.

Neonatal Hearing Screening and Prevalence of Hearing Impairment in the Time Period of COVID-19 Epidemic in the North of Iran

Background and Aim: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory disease, caused by a coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. Previous reports suggest an association between COVID-19 infection and Hearing Loss (HL). We have investigated the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) results in the time period of COVID-19 epidemic in Guilan Province, north of Iran.&#x0D; Methods: We analyzed UNHS results from10 major obstetrics hospitals from 20th Mar 2020 to 19th Mar 2021, and compared the total UNHS positive/“refer” and total neonatal HL reports with the same time periods of recent three years. The prevalence of risk factors for HL were analyzed during the same period.&#x0D; Results: The total number of childbirth was decreased significantly from 27735 birth cases in Mar 2017-2018 to 18216 births in Mar 2020-2021 (p&lt;0.001), but the total “refer” rate was significantly increased from 63.0 per 1,000 births in Mar 2019-2020 to 79.8 in Mar 2020-2021 (OR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.19-1.39, p&lt;0.001), and also increased from 74.7 per 1,000 births in Mar 2017-2020 to 79.8 in Mar 2020-2021 (OR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.14, p=0.020). The HL rate increased from 10.3 per 10,000 births in Mar 2019-2020 and from 11.4 per 10,000 births in Mar 2017-2020 to 18.7 in Mar 2020-2021 (OR=1.81 and 1.63, 95% CI: 1.06-3.09 and 1.10-2.44, p=0.028 and 0.015, respectively). The prevalence of preterm birth (p=0.039) and neonatal intensive care unit stay (p=0.016) was increased significantly during Mar 2020-2021.&#x0D; Conclusion: The chance of “refer” results and neonatal HL, found in the UNHS program, increased during the COVID-19 epidemic in comparison to the past years.&#x0D; Keywords: Newborn; hearing screening; hearing loss; COVID-19

Dual Sensory Impairment as a Predictor of Loneliness and Isolation in Older Adults: National Cohort Study.

Loneliness and social isolation are global public health challenges. Sensory impairments (SIs) are highly prevalent among older adults but are often ignored as a part of normal aging. Identifying the role of SIs in loneliness and social isolation could provide insight into strategies for improving public health among older adults. This study aims to analyze the effects of SIs on loneliness and social isolation among older adults in rural and urban China. This cohort study of 3069 older adults (aged 60+) used data from 4 waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a nationally representative survey of adults aged 45 years or older. SIs include hearing impairment (HI), vision impairment (VI), and dual sensory impairment (DSI). DSI is defined as the co-occurrence of VI and HI. Participants with complete data on hearing, vision, social isolation, and loneliness were included in the analysis. Generalized estimating equation models adjusted for covariates were used to examine the relationships of DSI with loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Older adults in rural areas have higher prevalence of DSI, loneliness, and social isolation than their urban counterparts. In rural areas, participants with VI only (odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% CI 1.12-1.62; P=.002), HI only (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.02-1.71; P=.03), and DSI (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.56-2.18; P<.001) were more likely to experience loneliness compared with participants without SIs. DSI showed a statistically significant association with loneliness compared with VI only (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.22-1.54; P<.001) and HI only (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.13-1.72; P=.002). In urban areas, participants with VI only (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.57-3.80; P<.001), HI only (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.41-4.32; P=.002), and DSI (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.24-2.85; P=.003) were more likely to experience loneliness compared with participants without SIs. DSI was not associated with the increased likelihood of loneliness compared with HI only or VI only. SIs were not associated with social isolation among older adults in urban and rural areas. Until 2018, 86.97% (2669/3069) reported VI, but only 27.11% (832/3069) and 9.45% (290/3069) were treated with glasses and cataract surgery, respectively; besides, 75 individuals received both glasses and cataract surgery treatment. The prevalence of HI was 74.39% (2283/3069) in 2018, but only 0.72% (22/3069) were treated with a hearing aid. SIs are associated with an increased risk of loneliness rather than social isolation. A compounded risk of DSI on loneliness exists in rural areas rather than in urban areas. These findings expand our knowledge about the effects of SIs on loneliness and social isolation in non-Western populations. Interventions targeting HI only and DSI might be particularly effective for mitigating loneliness of older adults in urban and rural areas, respectively. Considering the high prevalence and low treatment rate of SIs, measures should be taken to make treatment more accessible.