A Study on Hearing Impairment and its Demographic Distribution - A Hospital based Analysis

Dr. Mukul Patar; Dr. Rupanjita Sangma; Dr. Hiranyaprova Saikia; Mr. Gautam Kalita

Volume : VII, Issue : IV, April - 2018

A Study on Hearing Impairment and its Demographic Distribution - A Hospital based Analysis

Dr. Mukul Patar, Dr. Rupanjita Sangma, Dr. Hiranyaprova Saikia, Mr. Gautam Kalita

Abstract :

Aim: This study aims is to evaluate nature and distribution of he� loss in patients attending a tertiary health care centre and to get knowledge about its magnitude and demographic distribution.

Materials and Methods: Retrospective study was conducted to describe the audiological findings in terms of degree and type of he� loss in patients reported to Jorhat Medical College & Hospital, Jorhat, Assam over a period of three years (2015 to 2017) and effects of age and gender on the audiological profiles of the patients were also analysed.

Results:Audiological data (pure tone audiometry, BERA and tympanometry) of total 4815 patients were examined and reviewed for demographic details and for type anddegree of he� loss. 2002 cases (41.57%) were females and 2813 (58.42%) males (male:female; 1.4 :1). Age range was 6 months – 87 years, with a mean age of 33 years (SD: 34.91). Paediatric age group (6 months to 14 years) constituted around 17.69%, adult group (15 – 60 years) 68.99 %, while the older adult including geriatric ( 61 years and above) group was 13.31%. Highest 30.01%presented with severe degree he� loss,23.32% with mild degree, 18.27% moderate degree,12.77% moderately severe and 4.85% with profound degree he� loss. Conductive he� loss was highly observed followed by sensorineural in second place.Conductive type and severe degree (30.01%) of he� loss were found to have higher prevalence compared to other types and degrees of he� loss.Among the major causes of he� impairment recorded the ear diseases contributed highest to 81.41% cases.

Conclusion: Severe degree of he� loss is still prevalent in the communities and there is a strong need for identification and evaluation of he� loss cases in community level and to implement effective rehabilitation programs. The major contributors or causesof he� impairment among children,are largely preventable at primary or community care level.