Susan D Emmett1, Jane Schmitz, Joseph Pillion, Lee Wu, Subarna K Khatry, Sureshwar L Karna, Steven C LeClerq, Keith P West. 1. *Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and †Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; ‡Department of Urban and Environmental Policy, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California; §Department of Audiology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.; ║Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project-Sarlahi; and ¶Speech and Hearing Unit, Ganesh Man Singh Memorial ENT Centre, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between adolescent and young-adult hearing loss and nonverbal intelligence in rural Nepal. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional assessment of hearing loss among a population cohort of adolescents and young adults. SETTING:Sarlahi District, southern Nepal. PATIENTS: Seven hundred sixty-four individuals aged 14 to 23 years. INTERVENTION: Evaluation of hearing loss, defined by World Health Organization criteria of pure-tone average greater than 25 decibels (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz), unilaterally and bilaterally. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Nonverbal intelligence, as measured by the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, 3rd Edition standardized score (mean, 100; standard deviation, 15). RESULTS:Nonverbal intelligence scores differed between participants with normal hearing and those with bilateral (p = 0.04) but not unilateral (p = 0.74) hearing loss. Demographic and socioeconomic factors including male sex; higher caste; literacy; education level; occupation reported as student; and ownership of a bicycle, watch, and latrine were strongly associated with higher nonverbal intelligence scores (all p < 0.001). Subjects with bilateral hearing loss scored an average of 3.16 points lower (95% confidence interval, -5.56 to -0.75; p = 0.01) than subjects with normal hearing after controlling for socioeconomic factors. There was no difference in nonverbal intelligence score based on unilateral hearing loss (0.97; 95% confidence interval, -1.67 to 3.61; p = 0.47). CONCLUSION:Nonverbal intelligence is adversely affected by bilateral hearing loss even at mild hearing loss levels. Socio economic well-being appears compromised in individuals with lower nonverbal intelligence test scores.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between adolescent and young-adult hearing loss and nonverbal intelligence in rural Nepal. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional assessment of hearing loss among a population cohort of adolescents and young adults. SETTING: Sarlahi District, southern Nepal. PATIENTS: Seven hundred sixty-four individuals aged 14 to 23 years. INTERVENTION: Evaluation of hearing loss, defined by World Health Organization criteria of pure-tone average greater than 25 decibels (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz), unilaterally and bilaterally. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Nonverbal intelligence, as measured by the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, 3rd Edition standardized score (mean, 100; standard deviation, 15). RESULTS: Nonverbal intelligence scores differed between participants with normal hearing and those with bilateral (p = 0.04) but not unilateral (p = 0.74) hearing loss. Demographic and socioeconomic factors including male sex; higher caste; literacy; education level; occupation reported as student; and ownership of a bicycle, watch, and latrine were strongly associated with higher nonverbal intelligence scores (all p < 0.001). Subjects with bilateral hearing loss scored an average of 3.16 points lower (95% confidence interval, -5.56 to -0.75; p = 0.01) than subjects with normal hearing after controlling for socioeconomic factors. There was no difference in nonverbal intelligence score based on unilateral hearing loss (0.97; 95% confidence interval, -1.67 to 3.61; p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: Nonverbal intelligence is adversely affected by bilateral hearing loss even at mild hearing loss levels. Socio economic well-being appears compromised in individuals with lower nonverbal intelligence test scores.
Authors: Jane Schmitz; Joseph P Pillion; Steven C LeClerq; Subarna K Khatry; Lee S-F Wu; Rakesh Prasad; Sureswor L Karna; Sharada R Shrestha; Keith P West Journal: Int J Audiol Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 2.117
Authors: Jane Schmitz; Keith P West; Subarna K Khatry; Lee Wu; Steven C Leclerq; Sureswor L Karna; Joanne Katz; Alfred Sommer; Joseph Pillion Journal: BMJ Date: 2012-01-10
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