Hearing loss in Papua New Guinea: a study of outpatients attending Port Moresby General Hospital.

Hearing loss, with its cause, type and degree, was studied in patients who attended the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Outpatient Clinic at the Port Moresby General Hospital for a period of 5 years from 1987 to 1992. It was found that 1150 (18%) of the patient population attending the ENT Clinic had hearing loss. Audiological evaluation was performed in 583 patients. More males presented to the clinic with hearing loss than females. Otitis media was the most common identified cause of hearing loss followed by ear trauma and meningitis/cerebral malaria. Assaults were the major cause of traumatic hearing loss. Lack of awareness on the part of both professionals and parents affected early identification of hearing loss, especially in children, whose development of speech and language was seriously impaired. The need for implementation of suitable rehabilitation measures by the health services is emphasized.