Audiological Characteristics of Individuals with Hearing Loss in Otolaryngology Setup: a Retrospective Study in India

Volume 1 - Issue 4

Tulsi Sao, A Navya* and Kavita Sachdeva

Received: March 12, 2018;   Published: March 20, 2018

DOI: 10.32474/IGWHC.2018.01.000119

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Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss is hidden disability. Audio logical characteristics of hearing loss varies depending on age, gender, geographical location, socioeconomic status, occupational and other causative factors may interact with each other.

Aim: The present study aimed at exploring the audio logical characteristics of patients across the age range in both males and females receiving services at Department of ENT at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, India: A retrospective study.

Method: A retrospective case analysis was carried out by reviewing 1189 registered cases of those who received services from department of ENT at NSCB Medical College. The details of age, gender, degree, type of hearing loss, and management were obtained.

Result: The results indicated that 30% of the patients reported with complaints related to hearing were in the age range of 18- 29 years and only 7% were below 14 years. Among these 60.8% were males and 39.1 % were females. The majority of patients were exhibiting moderate (21%) hearing loss followed by mild (18.2%). A significant number of patients (18.4%) do exhibited normal hearing sensitivity. The type of the hearing loss in majority of these patients is conductive hearing loss (48.3%) exhibiting flat configuration (64.2%) in the audiogram. Hence, most of these patients underwent medical/surgical treatment (73.8%) to avoid the spread of infection or disease further. Some of the patients with irreversible hearing loss were recommended for hearing aid usage (20.9) and cochlear implantation (5%).

Conclusion: The study focuses on highlighting the details of various patients reporting to an otolaryngology set up exhibiting different type and degree of hearing loss and the respective treatment suggested and team work of an otolaryngologist and audiologist. The study also concludes that awareness need to be increased among public to identify children with mild and moderate hearing loss as the number of children reporting to the clinic are very less compared to the adults. Early intervention has major role in developing the speech and language skills of the children.

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