Pattern of Hearing Loss Among Patients Attending ENT Department of a Tertiary Hospital in Nepal: A Retrospective Study.

This study aims to analyze the pattern of hearing loss among patients visiting ENT department in Nepal Police Hospital. Pure tone audiometry results of 1654 patients with a complaint of the hearing loss were analyzed and the results were expressed in number and percentage. Among 1654 patients, 294 patients had normal hearing on both ears. So, a total of 1360 patients had hearing loss. Among 1360 patients, 897 (66%) cases were male and 463 (34%) were female. Most commonly affected age group was 31-40 years followed by 21-30 years age group. Out of 1360 patients, 432 (31.76%) patients had unilateral hearing loss whereas 928 (68.24%) cases had bilateral hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss was the most common 1349 (49.60%), followed by conductive 683 (25.11%) and mixed 256 (9.41%) hearing losses respectively. Conductive hearing loss was more common in younger age groups whereas sensorineural hearing loss was more common in older age groups. Mild hearing loss was seen in 1079 ears (39.67%), moderate in 671 (24.67%), severe in 368 (13.52%) and profound in 170 (6.25%). The mean hearing threshold was 42.90 ± 19.26 dB on right ear and 42.60 ± 18.76 dB on left ear with no statistically significant difference (p value -0.68). Hearing loss was more common in male population with younger age group involvement. Sensorineural hearing loss was the most common type. Mild degree of hearing loss and bilateral involvement was most common. © Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2021.