Susan Eksteen1, Robert H Eikelboom2,3,4, Hannah Kuper5, Stefan Launer6,7, De Wet Swanepoel2,3. 1. Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Rd, Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. susaneksteen17@gmail.com. 2. Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Rd, Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. 3. Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Australia. 4. Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia. 5. International Centre for Eye Health, Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, England. 6. Sonova AG, Science & Technology, Stäfa, Switzerland. 7. School of Health and Rehabilitation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The majority of children with sensory impairments live in low- and middle-income countries. More studies of hearing and vision impairment prevalence are needed, in order to generate more accurate estimates of trends in sensory impairments. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and describe the characteristics of hearing and vision loss among preschool children (4-7 years) in an underserved South African community following community-based mobile health (mHealth) supported hearing and vision services. METHODS: A screening program of sensory impairments was undertaken of children attending preschools in the communities of Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain, Cape Town, from September 2017 until June 2019. Hearing and vision screening were done by trained community health workers using mHealth technology. Children who failed hearing and vision screening were seen for follow-up assessments at their preschools. Follow-up assessments were conducted using smartphones that host point-of-care validated and calibrated hearing and vision testing applications (hearTest app, hearX Group, South Africa and PeekAcuity app, Peek Vision, United Kingdom). Descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted after extracting data from a secure cloud-based server (mHealth Studio, hearX Group) to Microsoft Excel (2016). RESULTS: A total of 10,390 children were screened at 298 preschools over 22 months. Of the children screened, 5.6 and 4.4% of children failed hearing and vision screening respectively. Community-based follow-up hearing tests were done at the preschools on 88.5% (514) of children of whom 240 children (54.2% female) presented with hearing loss. A preschool-based follow-up vision test was done on 400 children (88.1%). A total of 232 children (46.1% female) had a vision impairment, and a further 32 children passed the test but had obvious signs of ocular morbidity. Logistic regression analysis found that age was a significant predictor of vision loss (p < 0.05), but not for hearing loss (p = 0.06). Gender was not a significant predictor of hearing (p = 0.22) or vision loss (p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss is prevalent in at least 22 per 1000 and vision loss in at least 23 per 1000 preschool children in an underserved South African community. Timely identification of sensory losses can be facilitated through community-based hearing and vision services supported by mHealth technology.
BACKGROUND: The majority of children with sensory impairments live in low- and middle-income countries. More studies of hearing and vision impairment prevalence are needed, in order to generate more accurate estimates of trends in sensory impairments. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and describe the characteristics of hearing and vision loss among preschool children (4-7 years) in an underserved South African community following community-based mobile health (mHealth) supported hearing and vision services. METHODS: A screening program of sensory impairments was undertaken of children attending preschools in the communities of Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain, Cape Town, from September 2017 until June 2019. Hearing and vision screening were done by trained community health workers using mHealth technology. Children who failed hearing and vision screening were seen for follow-up assessments at their preschools. Follow-up assessments were conducted using smartphones that host point-of-care validated and calibrated hearing and vision testing applications (hearTest app, hearX Group, South Africa and PeekAcuity app, Peek Vision, United Kingdom). Descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted after extracting data from a secure cloud-based server (mHealth Studio, hearX Group) to Microsoft Excel (2016). RESULTS: A total of 10,390 children were screened at 298 preschools over 22 months. Of the children screened, 5.6 and 4.4% of children failed hearing and vision screening respectively. Community-based follow-up hearing tests were done at the preschools on 88.5% (514) of children of whom 240 children (54.2% female) presented with hearing loss. A preschool-based follow-up vision test was done on 400 children (88.1%). A total of 232 children (46.1% female) had a vision impairment, and a further 32 children passed the test but had obvious signs of ocular morbidity. Logistic regression analysis found that age was a significant predictor of vision loss (p < 0.05), but not for hearing loss (p = 0.06). Gender was not a significant predictor of hearing (p = 0.22) or vision loss (p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss is prevalent in at least 22 per 1000 and vision loss in at least 23 per 1000 preschool children in an underserved South African community. Timely identification of sensory losses can be facilitated through community-based hearing and vision services supported by mHealth technology.
Authors: Jessica van Tonder; De Wet Swanepoel; Faheema Mahomed-Asmail; Hermanus Myburgh; Robert H Eikelboom Journal: J Am Acad Audiol Date: 2017-03 Impact factor: 1.664
Authors: Brian D Westerberg; Danuta M Skowronski; Irwin F Stewart; Lois Stewart; Monika Bernauer; Lawrence Mudarikwa Journal: Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2005-01-21 Impact factor: 1.675
Authors: Omid Moshtaghi; Ronald Sahyouni; Yarah M Haidar; Melissa Huang; Afsheen Moshtaghi; Yaser Ghavami; Harrison W Lin; Hamid R Djalilian Journal: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2017-01-24 Impact factor: 3.497
Authors: Susan Eksteen; Robert H Eikelboom; Stefan Launer; Hannah Kuper; De Wet Swanepoel Journal: Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Andrew Bastawrous; Hillary K Rono; Iain A T Livingstone; Helen A Weiss; Stewart Jordan; Hannah Kuper; Matthew J Burton Journal: JAMA Ophthalmol Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 7.389
Authors: Susan Eksteen; Stefan Launer; Hannah Kuper; Robert H Eikelboom; Andrew Bastawrous; De Wet Swanepoel Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2019-06-19 Impact factor: 9.408