Tess Bright1, Wakisa Mulwafu2, Mwanaisha Phiri3, Fan Jiang4, De Wet Swanepoel5, Hannah Kuper1, Islay Mactaggart1, Jennifer L Y Yip1, Sarah Polack1. 1. International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. 2. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi. 3. Audiology Department, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. 4. School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, China. 5. Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Abstract
Objective: (1) To test the feasibility of the Rapid Assessment of Hearing Loss (RAHL) survey protocol in Malawi (Ntcheu); (2) To estimate the prevalence and probable causes of hearing loss (adults 50+).Design: Cross-sectional population-based survey.Study sample: Clusters (n = 38) were selected using probability-proportionate-to-size-sampling. Within each cluster, 30 people aged 50+ were selected using compact-segment-sampling. All participants completed smartphone-based audiometry (hearTest). Prevalence was estimated using WHO definitions (PTA of thresholds 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz in the better ear of >25 dB HL (any) and >40 dB HL (≥moderate)). Otoscopy and questionnaire were used to assess probable causes. Participants with hearing loss and/or ear disease were asked about care-seeking and barriers. Results: Four teams completed the survey in 24 days. 1080 of 1153 (93.7%) participants were examined. The median time to complete the protocol was 24 min/participant. Prevalence of hearing loss was 35.9% (95% CI = 31.6-40.2) (any level); and 10.0% (95% CI = 7.9-12.5) (≥moderate). The majority was classified as probable sensorineural. Nearly one third of people (30.9%) needed diagnostic audiology services and possible hearing aid fitting. Hearing aid coverage was <1%. Lack of perceived need was a key barrier. Conclusion: The RAHL is simple, fast and provides information about the magnitude and probable causes of hearing loss to plan services.
Objective: (1) To test the feasibility of the Rapid Assessment of Hearing Loss (RAHL) survey protocol in Malawi (Ntcheu); (2) To estimate the prevalence and probable causes of hearing loss (adults 50+).Design: Cross-sectional population-based survey.Study sample: Clusters (n = 38) were selected using probability-proportionate-to-size-sampling. Within each cluster, 30 people aged 50+ were selected using compact-segment-sampling. All participants completed smartphone-based audiometry (hearTest). Prevalence was estimated using WHO definitions (PTA of thresholds 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz in the better ear of >25 dB HL (any) and >40 dB HL (≥moderate)). Otoscopy and questionnaire were used to assess probable causes. Participants with hearing loss and/or ear disease were asked about care-seeking and barriers. Results: Four teams completed the survey in 24 days. 1080 of 1153 (93.7%) participants were examined. The median time to complete the protocol was 24 min/participant. Prevalence of hearing loss was 35.9% (95% CI = 31.6-40.2) (any level); and 10.0% (95% CI = 7.9-12.5) (≥moderate). The majority was classified as probable sensorineural. Nearly one third of people (30.9%) needed diagnostic audiology services and possible hearing aid fitting. Hearing aid coverage was <1%. Lack of perceived need was a key barrier. Conclusion: The RAHL is simple, fast and provides information about the magnitude and probable causes of hearing loss to plan services.
Entities:
Keywords:
Demographics/epidemiology; adult or general hearing screening; aging; hearing aids
Authors: Dorothy Boggs; Abba Hydara; Yaka Faal; John Atta Okoh; Segun Isaac Olaniyan; Haruna Sanneh; Abdoulie Ngett; Isatou Bah; Mildred Aleser; Erima Denis; Ian McCormick; Tess Bright; Suzannah Bell; Minjung Kim; Allen Foster; Hannah Kuper; Matthew J Burton; Islay Mactaggart; Sarah Polack Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-10 Impact factor: 3.390