Faheema Mahomed-Asmail1, De Wet Swanepoel2, Robert H Eikelboom3. 1. Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. Electronic address: faheema.mahomed@up.ac.za. 2. Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Ear Science Institute Australia, Suite 1, Level 2, 1 Salvado Rd., Subiaco 6008, WA, Australia; Ear Sciences Centre, School of Surgery, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia. Electronic address: dewet.swanepoel@up.ac.za. 3. Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; Ear Science Institute Australia, Suite 1, Level 2, 1 Salvado Rd., Subiaco 6008, WA, Australia; Ear Sciences Centre, School of Surgery, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia. Electronic address: rob.eikelboom@earscience.org.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss in school-aged children in an urban South African population. METHOD: Children from grade one to three from five schools in the Gauteng Province of South Africa formed a representative sample for this study. All children underwent otoscopic examinations, tympanometry and pure tone screening (25dB HL at 1, 2 and 4kHz). Children who failed the screening test and 5% of those who passed the screening test underwent diagnostic audiometry. RESULTS: A total of 1070 children were screened. Otoscopic examinations revealed that a total of 6.6% ears had cerumen and 7.5% of ears presented with a type-B tympanogram. 24 children (12 male, 12 female) were diagnosed with hearing loss. The overall prevalence of hearing loss was 2.2% with Caucasian children being 2.9 times more (95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.9) likely to have a hearing loss than African children. CONCLUSION: Hearing loss prevalence in urban South African school-aged children suggest that many children (2.2%) are in need of some form of follow-up services, most for medical intervention (1.2%) with a smaller population requiring audiological intervention (0.4%).
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss in school-aged children in an urban South African population. METHOD:Children from grade one to three from five schools in the Gauteng Province of South Africa formed a representative sample for this study. All children underwent otoscopic examinations, tympanometry and pure tone screening (25dB HL at 1, 2 and 4kHz). Children who failed the screening test and 5% of those who passed the screening test underwent diagnostic audiometry. RESULTS: A total of 1070 children were screened. Otoscopic examinations revealed that a total of 6.6% ears had cerumen and 7.5% of ears presented with a type-B tympanogram. 24 children (12 male, 12 female) were diagnosed with hearing loss. The overall prevalence of hearing loss was 2.2% with Caucasian children being 2.9 times more (95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.9) likely to have a hearing loss than African children. CONCLUSION:Hearing loss prevalence in urban South African school-aged children suggest that many children (2.2%) are in need of some form of follow-up services, most for medical intervention (1.2%) with a smaller population requiring audiological intervention (0.4%).
Authors: Kenny Chan; Phyllis Carosone-Link; Mary Thatcher G Bautista; Diozele Sanvictores; Kristin Uhler; Veronica Tallo; Marilla G Lucero; Joanne De Jesus; Eric A F Simoes Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-02-17 Impact factor: 3.006
Authors: Francis M Banda; Kathleen M Powis; Agnes B Mokoka; Moalosi Mmapetla; Katherine D Westmoreland; Thuso David; Andrew P Steenhoff Journal: Glob Pediatr Health Date: 2018-04-20