Publication:

Prevalence and etiological factor of hearing impairment among school going children in rural area of district, Dehradun

Background Childhood hearing impairment is a significant public health condition associated with long-term academic and communicative difficulties. Causes can be congenital or acquired. Nearly half of the known causes can be prevented by primary public health methods. Present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and etiological factor related to hearing impairment among school going children in rural area district Dehradun.

Methods 1003 children, aged 6 to 17 years, from the schools in the Doiwala block district Dehradun were randomly selected and examined. Clinical otologic assessment and Pure tone audiometry screening were conducted on all participants.

Results The prevalence of hearing impairment was 19.6%. The hearing impairment in majority of cases was of a mild degree i.e., 26 to 40 dB (93.9%) of which majority of children (99.0%) had conductive loss. Wax was the commonest cause of hearing loss (79.2%). CSOM was found in 19.0% children.

Conclusions The prevalence of hearing impairment in school going children in rural area district Dehradun was high. Majority of the etiological factor of hearing impairment identified were preventable. Proper assessment and diagnosis of hearing loss in children at early age is important for better development and psychosocial development.