Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 109 (1997)The Prevalence and Causes of Hearing Loss Among Children in TawamHospitalStudent Authors: Rowaya Ali Al DhaheriFaculty Supervisors: Dr. M.M. Hossain, Dr. F. Al MaskariAbstract:Objectives To determine the prevalence of hearing loss and association with differentear problems among UAE children who have been evaluated by audiometry in TawamHospital.Methods A descriptive retrospective study. Data of 92 children (0-2 years) evaluatedby audiometry were collected from medical records.Results The prevalence rate of hearing loss among referred children was 52.17%.Prevalence of conductive hearing loss was 72.9%. Commonest causes of conductivehearing loss was middle ear effusion (chronic otitis media). Children with syndromichearing loss (presence of other associated conditions) had more of acquired middleear conditions than of congenital ear conditions as a cause of their deafness. Theoutcome of the management was good in 47.9% of the deaf children. Acquired middleear conditions had good outcome whereas congenital ear condition (cong.sensorineural deafness) had poor outcome.Conclusion Middle ear infection is the commonest cause of referral to ENT clinic and itis the commonest cause of hearing loss among these children. It is a treatablecondition with good outcome if it is detected early before deafness and languageproblems happen.