Hearing Impairment in 2008: A compilation of available epidemiological studies

Auditory Steady-State Response and Hearing Impairment in Survivors of Childhood Bacterial Meningitis in Luanda, Angola

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Survivors of childhood bacterial meningitis (BM) often develop hearing impairment (HI). In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), BM continues to be a significant cause of hearing disability. We assessed hearing among BM survivors using auditory steady-state responses (ASSR), providing frequency-specific estimated audiograms, and examined whether ASSR would provide a greater understanding of BM-induced HI. Survivors from two prospective BM trials (ISRCTN62824827; NCT01540838) from Luanda Children’s Hospital were examined in a follow-up visit with a median duration of 26 months after BM. The hearing of 50 BM survivors and 19 control children was evaluated using ASSR and auditory brainstem response (ABR) after interview and neurological and otorhinolaryngological examinations. The median age of survivors was 80 (IQR 86) months. We diagnosed HI (better ear hearing ≥ 26 dB) in 9/50 (18%) children. Five of the fifty survivors (10%) and 14/100 ears (14%) had profound HI (>80 dB). Severe-to-profound HI affected all frequencies steadily, affecting only the ears of BM survivors (18/100 vs. 0/38, p = 0.003). When looking only at the severely or profoundly affected ears, young age, low Glascow coma score, pneumococcal aetiology, and ataxia were associated with a worse hearing outcome.

Hearing Impairment in a Semi-urban Community in North-western Nigeria

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2016

Prevalence of hearing loss among primary school children in Ethiopia

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2025

Objective The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in children attending primary schools in urban and rural Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in children aged 7 to 14 years. A total of 384 children had complete examinations and were included in the study. Results The prevalence of hearing loss of all types in the urban school was 6.2% using a cut-off of 40 dB Fletcher index (500–2000 Hz). The prevalence increased to 10.2 % in the same population if a cut-off of 25 dB HL FI was used. In the rural school with a cut-off of 30 dB HL the hearing prevalence was 5.9%. The proportion of conductive hearing loss was lower in the urban school and constituted 16% of all hearing losses. We estimated the proportion of conductive hearing loss in the rural school to be at least 50%. In the urban school the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss was 5.8% while it was much lower at 1.3% and exclusively unilateral in the rural school. The degree of hearing loss according to WHO criteria was calculated only for the urban population. A prevalence of bilateral severe hearing loss (≥61 dB HL) of 0.5% and of moderate hearing loss (> 41 dB and ≤60dB HL) of 1% was found using WHO criteria. The prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media and of dry perforations were similar between schools (2.5 to 2.7%). Otitis media was rare in this study likely due to seasonal influences and exclusion of very young children. These results are compared to similar school studies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusions The prevalence of hearing loss in these two Ethiopian cohorts (rural and urban) is in agreement with the data published by WHO for Sub-Saharan Africa. While some of the variation between urban and rural populations may have been real, some of the discrepancy may have resulted from differences in acoustic testing environments. We describe these challenges in hopes of improving universal screening procedures.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Hearing Loss Detection Using Acoustic Threshold and Speech Perception Level

Article

May 2023

Hearing loss detection using automated audiometers and artificial intelligence methods has gained increasing attention in recent years. The proposed work aims: (a) to design an automated audiometer to diagnose hearing ability and to evaluate hearing intensity for healthy and profound hearing loss patients within 250 Hz to 8 kHz, (b) to compare the proposed automated audiometer with a conventional audiometer when estimating auditory perception level using pure tone and speech audiometers, and (c) to use the machine learning algorithms to classify hearing loss and normal subjects based on the selected features extracted from speech signals. Participants in the study included 50 healthy individuals and 50 patients with profound hearing loss. In the proposed hardware unit, the transmitted pure-tone signal and the speech signal stimulus are controlled automatically instead of being controlled manually. Using a digital potentiometer, a pure-tone audiometer can be automatically calibrated by varying the frequency and intensity of the generated tones according to the users’ responses. During speech audiometric measurements, pre-recorded speech and repeated speech signals are analyzed to estimate speech recognition threshold (SRT) and word recognition score (WRS). The designed audiometer plots the audiogram automatically, estimating SRT and WRS, and classifying the subject as normal or hearing impaired. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using Machine Learning to predict hearing impairment in patients. A support vector machine, a random forest, and an AdaBoost model produced accuracy rates of 98%, 96%, and 96%, respectively, when identifying normal and hearing loss subjects. The proposed audiometer system is miniaturized, portable, and user-friendly in comparison to conventional audiometers. Consequently, the prototype would make it possible for subjects to conduct their own audiometric tests independently and send the results along with their audiogram to a trained medical professional to receive advice.

Prevalence of Hearing Impairment by Age: 2nd to 10th Decades of Life

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022

Background: Accurate data on the prevalence of hearing impairment and severity across age and gender are paramount to formulate hearing health policies. Here, we sought to analyze audiometric data from a large group of age-diverse people in Japan, which has not been previously described in detail. Methods: We analyzed retrospective hearing threshold data of 23,860 participants (10-99 years; left-right hearing threshold difference <15 dB; air-bone gap ≤10 dB) at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, and then classified them for hearing impairment severity according to the WHO Classification. Findings: There was a significant gender difference in median hearing thresholds, starting in 20-year-olds up to early 80-year-olds. Twenty-five percent of men in their late 50s had some level of HI, ~50% in their late 60s, and ~75% in their late 70s. For women, 25% had some level of HI in their early 60s, ~50% in their early 70s, and ~75% in their late 70s. For participants in their early 80s, 50% of either gender had moderate or more severe HI. Interpretation: Our results, derived from a large number of participants, provide basic information about the prevalence of hearing loss by age decade. Since people can expect to live longer than those in previous generations, our detailed data can inform national social systems responsible for hearing screening in making decisions about hearing-aid qualification, which may reduce barriers to older people's independence, productivity, and quality of life.

Hearing Loss and Its Burden of Disease in a Large German Cohort—Hearing Loss in Germany

Article

Dec 2021

Objectives/Hypothesis Hearing loss is the most common sensory impairment worldwide. It restricts patients in many aspects of their daily lives and can lead to social exclusion. Understanding this burden is a mandatory requirement for the care of those affected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the burden of hearing loss in a large German cohort. Study Design Cohort study. Methods The Gutenberg Health Study is designed as a single-center, prospective, and observational cohort study and representative for the city of Mainz, Germany, with its district. Participants were interviewed concerning common otologic symptoms and tested by pure-tone audiometry. The primary outcome was hearing impairment stratified by age and sex. The prevalence of tinnitus was estimated for a subcohort to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). All results were weighted by the European Standard Population (ESP) 2013. Results A total of 5,024 participants (mean age: 61.2 years, 2,591 men and 2,433 women) were included in the study. Hearing impairment showed the following prevalence: 28.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.9%–29.4%) mild impairment, 10.1% (95% CI, 9.3%–11.0%) moderate impairment, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.9%–2.7%) moderately severe impairment, 0.2% (95% CI, 0.1%–0.4%) severe impairment, 0% (95% CI, 0.0%–0.1%) profound impairment, and 0.1% (95% CI, 0.0%–0.2%) complete impairment. Weighted for the ESP 2013 (all ages), hearing impairment across all levels (with/without tinnitus) causes a total of 2,118.97 DALYs per 100,000. Conclusion With 40.9% affected, the hearing loss represents a relevant burden of the German population. Understanding this will provide the basis for future guidelines on how to care for these patients. Level of Evidence 2 Laryngoscope, 2021

Advancements in cochlear implant technology: A comprehensive overview

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2025

Development of Measures for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma: Introduction to the Special Supplement on Stigma Measurement Tools

Article

Sep 2024
Ear Hear

People who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) often experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives. Qualitative research describing their lived experiences has provided useful, in-depth insights into the pervasiveness of stigma. Quantitative measures could facilitate further investigation of the scope of this phenomenon. Thus, under the auspices of the Lancet Commission on Hearing Loss, we developed and preliminarily validated survey measures of different types of stigma related to d/Deafness and hearing loss in the United States (a high-income country) and Ghana (a lower-middle income country). In this introductory article, we first present working definitions of the different types of stigma; an overview of what is known about stigma in the context of hearing loss; and the motivation underlying the development of measures that capture different types of stigma from the perspectives of different key groups. We then describe the mixed-methods exploratory sequential approach used to develop the stigma measures for several key groups: people who are d/DHH, parents of children who are d/DHH, care partners of people who are d/DHH, healthcare providers, and the general population. The subsequent manuscripts in this special supplement of Ear and Hearing describe the psychometric validation of the various stigma scales developed using these methods.

Prevalence of hearing loss in children living in low‐ and middle‐income countries over the last 10 years: A systematic review

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2022
DEV MED CHILD NEUROL

Aim To summarize the literature on the prevalence of pediatric hearing loss in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Method A systematic review initially identified 2833 studies, of which 122 met the criteria for inclusion. Eighty‐six of those studies included diagnoses and were included in a meta‐analysis. Results The meta‐analysis indicated a 1% (95% confidence interval = 0.8–2.0) prevalence of childhood hearing loss across LMICs. There was significant heterogeneity between studies and evidence of publication bias. The prevalence of mild and moderate cases of hearing loss was higher than more severe cases and there were fewer cases of mixed hearing loss compared to conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. No differences were identified between the prevalence of unilateral versus bilateral hearing loss or hearing loss according to sex. The quality of the studies, age of participants, and location of data collection may have influenced the results. High variability in the reporting of etiology made the causes of hearing loss unclear. Interpretation The literature indicates that 1% of children in LMICs have hearing losses. However, most studies missed children with acquired hearing loss, which may lead to under‐reporting of global prevalence. This systematic review is an initial step toward developing and implementing population‐appropriate treatment and prevention programs for childhood hearing loss in LMICs. What this paper adds The prevalence of childhood hearing loss in low‐ and middle‐income countries is 1%. Reporting of hearing loss etiology was highly variable.

Traffic noise pollution assessment along the Ring Road of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2022
CURR SCI INDIA

Sound or noise pollution has become a pressing issue in the major cities of the world. The rapidly growing and densely populated Kathmandu city in Nepal is no exception. Traffic noise level data were recorded in the field using sound-level meters. Each observation session was for 3 h (8-11 am) and (3-6 pm) at an interval of 10 sec on working days. The vehicle flow status was studied by direct observation, while the time series of noise pollution data and vehicles registered were updated from secondary sources. Further, various noise descriptors like traffic noise level, noise pollution level, equivalent continuous sound level (Leq), minimum sound level and maximum sound level were determined to assess noise pollution. It was found that there was no significant difference in the descriptors between the morning and evening traffic flow periods at a 5% level of significance. At all the 20 studied road junctions, Leq exceeded 70 dB(A) surpassing the recommended levels of national as well as international noise standards. If the present noise pollution level persists in Kathmandu with the growing population and number of vehicles, it will increase the chances of adverse health effects on the population .

Congenital hearing loss: a literature review of the genetic etiology in a Mexican population

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2022

Hearing loss is the most frequent sensory disorder, with an incidence of 1:1500 live newborns. In more than 50% of patients, it is associated with a genetic cause, while in up to 30% of cases, it is related to syndromic entities. We performed a literature review of studies on congenital hearing loss of genetic origin in the Mexican population. We identified eight reports that showed that the pathogenic variants most frequently associated with hearing loss are related to the GJB2 gene, although in a low percentage (3%). Other mutations were identified in the GJB6, SLC26A4, or CHD23 genes. On this basis, a possible diagnostic strategy in Mexican patients with hearing loss is to consider an initial screening of these three genes. If these genes were negative for pathogenic variants, the following steps would be to consider second-generation sequencing analysis focused on panels of genes associated with hearing loss, isolated or syndromic, and if necessary, to perform exome or whole-genome analysis. Establishing an etiologic cause is critical in clinically evaluating patients with congenital hearing loss and their families. It can help determine rehabilitation strategies, such as hearing aids or cochlear implants and provide information on disease progression and genetic counseling in this population.

Association of hypertension and age-related sensorineural hearing loss among elderly: A cross-sectional study

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2022

Background: Hearing loss (HL) has negative impact on quality of life. The prevalence of HL increases with age. Aims and Objectives: The present study was planned to explore the possible association of hypertension with age-related sensorineural HL (SNHL) in the elderly. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done in the ENT Department of Great Eastern Medical School and Hospital, Srikakulam. Consecutive sampling method used. Sample size was considered using the formula – 4pq/l2 and 137 subjects from age group 60–75 years were included in the study. Hypertension was verified through a mercury sphygmomanometer and by a systematized questionnaire about hypertension and the use of medication for blood pressure. The hearing was assessed through threshold audiometric and audiological assessment. The study period: 4 months. All patients from the ENT department in the age group 60–75 years and who gave written informed consent were involved in the study. Participants with a history of ear surgery performed in the past, exposure to loud sounds, recently use of ototoxic drugs, patients with hearing aids, and ear diseases were excluded from the study. Results: Out of 137 subjects 52% had hypertension and 48% had no hypertension. Grade 1 hypertensives suffered from mild HL (7.9%), moderate HL (73%), severe HL (11%), and profound HL (7.9%). In Grade 2, hypertensives suffered from moderate HL (11%), severe HL (33.3%), and profound HL (55.5%). The P-value calculated by the Chi-square method was found to be

Prevalence of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use among Adults in France in the CONSTANCES Study

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2022

Importance: Although hearing loss is common in the population worldwide, the prevalence of hearing loss and hearing aid use is not known. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hearing loss and hearing aid use in the adult French population. Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study used data from the CONSTANCES cohort, a representative sample of the French population. Volunteers aged 18 to 75 years were recruited at 21 preventive health centers between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2019. The present study included participants with audiometric data. Main outcomes and measures: The main outcomes were prevalence of hearing loss and disabling hearing loss overall and by sex and age group and prevalence of self-reported hearing aid use among those with disabling hearing loss. Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average (PTA) in the better ear of 20 dB or higher, and disabling hearing loss was defined as a PTA in the better ear of 35 dB or higher. Results: Of 200 870 participants in the CONSTANCES study, 186 460 had full audiometric data and were included in this study (mean [SD] age, 47.1 [13.5] years); 100 330 (53.8%) were female, and 86 130 (46.2%) were male. Of these participants, 24.8% (95% CI, 24.6%-25.0%) had hearing loss and 4.3% (95% CI, 4.2%-4.4%) had disabling hearing loss. The prevalence rates of hearing loss increased from 3.4% (95% CI, 2.8%-3.9%) at age 18 to 25 years to 73.3% (95% CI, 69.5%-77.2%) at age 71 to 75 years among men and from 4.4% (95% CI, 3.9%-5.0%) at age 18 to 25 years to 64.1% (95% CI, 59.7%-68.4%) at age 71 to 75 years among women. The prevalence of disabling hearing loss increased from 0.3% (95% CI, 0.2%-0.4%) among participants aged 18 to 25 years to 23.3% (95% CI, 20.7%-26.0%) among participants aged 71 to 75 years. Among the 8050 participants with disabling hearing loss, 36.8% (95% CI, 35.8%-37.9%) reported using hearing aids, including 56.7% (95% CI, 38.9%-74.4%) aged 18 to 25 years and 32.9% (95% CI, 26.8%-39.2%) aged 71 to 75 years. Conclusions and relevance: In this cohort study, hearing loss was prevalent in France, and the prevalence of hearing loss increased with age among both men and women. Hearing aids were underused, particularly among older individuals. These findings suggest that hearing loss prevention and screening in the French population are needed.

Forty years on: a new national study of hearing in England and implications for global hearing health policy

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2022

Objective: We aimed to update the prevalence estimates of hearing loss in older adults in England using a nationally representative sample of adults aged 50 years old and older. Design: A comparative cross-sectional study design was implemented. Hearing loss was defined as ≥35 dB HL at 3.0 kHz, as measured via Hearcheck in the better-hearing ear. Study sample: We compared the estimates based on the English census in 2015 to estimates from psychoacoustic hearing data available for 8,263 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) Wave 7 (2014-2015). Results: Marked regional variability in hearing loss prevalence was revealed among participants with similar age profiles. The regional differences in hearing outcomes reached up to 13.53% in those belonging to the 71-80 years old group; the prevalence of hearing loss was 49.22% in the North East of England (95%CI 48.0-50.4), versus 35.69% in the South East (95%CI 34.8-36.50). Conclusion: A socio-spatial approach in planning sustainable models of hearing care based on the actual populations' needs and not on age demographics might offer a viable opportunity for healthier lives. Regular assessment of the extent and causality of the population's different audiological needs within the country is strongly supported.

Hearing screening program for school going children in India: necessity, justification, and suggested approaches

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2021

Ansari Mohammad Shamim

Background It is estimated that about 15% of students have transient hearing loss worldwide sufficient enough to interfere with communication, psychosocial relationship, and learning resulting in poor educational achievement and poverty. However, these conditions are reversible through timely detection and effective interventions. India is home to the largest number of school age children with hearing impairment, and majority of them remain undetected and untreated due to the absence of any dedicated hearing screening program. Therefore, this paper attempts to convince all stakeholders for planning and implementing early detection and intervention program for children with hearing impairment in school settings. Methods Recent literature estimates that children between the ages 0 and 14 years contribute 25.9% of the total Indian population. As per the global estimates of the prevalence of hearing impairment, India houses the largest number of school age children with hearing impairment. Many of them either remain out of school or perform poorly in school curriculum. Results The children in educational programs are readily and easily available for applying hearing screening procedures to detect hearing impairment and instituting audiological and educational remedial measures. But unfortunately, India has not yet envisaged any dedicated early detection and intervention program for school-going children consequently majority of children with hearing impairment undetected and untreated in the classroom. Conclusion Hearing impairment is a serious health concern among school age children which can adversely impact on communication, educational achievement, and vocational options. However, screening approaches for early identification in school age children across the world which are simple, effective, and cost-efficient can be considered for countries like India to reverse the ill effects of hearing impairment. Potential implication The paper may heighten the awareness among school personnel, educational administrators, and policymakers to consider planning and implementation of early detection and intervention program for children with hearing impairment in school settings.

Implementation of National Infant Screening for Hearing Program in India: Challenges, Opportunities and Suggested Framework

Article

Sep 2021

Ansari Mohammad Shamim

Hearing impairment is most frequent sensory deficit present in infants at birth and unaddressed hearing impairment causes severe damages to both infants and their families. In India 77,756 live children are born per day which accounts for about 25 million children annually among them approximately 1.5 lacs (@ 6 per1000) children born with hearing impairment. These children have no prospects of early identification & intervention. As a result, majority of these children suffers from oral communication difficulties, poor academic performance, reduced psychosocial & cognitive development, socioeconomic insufficiency, deprived vocational opportunities & employability. However, consequences of hearing impairment are ameliorable if timely hearing screening and effective intervention strategies are instituted. Unfortunately, India has not yet envisaged any dedicated early identification and intervention program for children with hearing impairment. However, there are ample of opportunities for implementing such program. Hence, this paper endeavours to address the necessity to plan and to implement the early identification of hearing impairment by discussing burden of disorder, suggesting means to overcome the challenges and to explore and emphasize the opportunities of purposeful utilization of available infrastructure and resources. This paper also intends to suggest a conceptual framework for planning and implementing of National Infant Screening for Hearing Program to deal with serious consequences of hearing impairment in India.

Hearing loss and hypertension: exploring the linkage

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2021

Background The inner ear vascular system may be disrupted by systemic hypertension causing inner ear hemorrhage and resulting in progressive or sudden hearing loss. Constriction of the labyrinthine artery secondary to atherosclerosis seen in high BMI and waist/hip circumference—risk factors of hypertension—could also occur with resultant hearing loss. Thus, hypertension could predispose to increased risk of hearing loss. This cross-sectional study assessed the hearing thresholds of hypertensive patients and sought to determine the association between hypertension and hearing loss among patients attending cardiology clinic in tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Results The study population was 500 individuals equally divided into subject and control arms. The mean age of the subjects and controls was 47.2 ± 7.4 years and 46.9 ± 7.5 years respectively. Hearing loss—mainly mild sensorineural hearing loss—was seen in 30% of the subjects and 0.4% of the controls. The hearing loss was bilateral in all subjects and slightly worse in the right ears. The hearing loss worsened with increased age, severity, and duration of hypertension; however, there was no association between the hearing loss and body mass index. Conclusion There is an association between hypertension and hearing loss, though most of the hypertensive subjects had mild sensorineural hearing loss. The prevalence and severity of the hearing loss worsens with the degree of hypertension. Incorporating regular audiological assessment for hypertensive patients could improve the quality of care for hypertension and quality of life for hypertensive patients.

Hearing Loss

Chapter

Full-text available

Jan 2021

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Mar 2021

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021
LANCET

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability. Methods We did systematic reviews of population-representative surveys on hearing loss prevalence from 1990 to 2019. We fitted nested meta-regression models for severity-specific prevalence, accounting for hearing aid coverage, cause, and the presence of tinnitus. We also forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss until 2050. Findings An estimated 1·57 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·51–1·64) people globally had hearing loss in 2019, accounting for one in five people (20·3% [19·5–21·1]). Of these, 403·3 million (357·3–449·5) people had hearing loss that was moderate or higher in severity after adjusting for hearing aid use, and 430·4 million (381·7–479·6) without adjustment. The largest number of people with moderate-to-complete hearing loss resided in the Western Pacific region (127·1 million people [112·3–142·6]). Of all people with a hearing impairment, 62·1% (60·2–63·9) were older than 50 years. The Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index explained 65·8% of the variation in national age-standardised rates of years lived with disability, because countries with a low HAQ Index had higher rates of years lived with disability. By 2050, a projected 2·45 billion (2·35–2·56) people will have hearing loss, a 56·1% (47·3–65·2) increase from 2019, despite stable age-standardised prevalence. Interpretation As populations age, the number of people with hearing loss will increase. Interventions such as childhood screening, hearing aids, effective management of otitis media and meningitis, and cochlear implants have the potential to ameliorate this burden. Because the burden of moderate-to-complete hearing loss is concentrated in countries with low health-care quality and access, stronger health-care provision mechanisms are needed to reduce the burden of unaddressed hearing loss in these settings.

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability. Methods We did systematic reviews of population-representative surveys on hearing loss prevalence from 1990 to 2019. We fitted nested meta-regression models for severity-specific prevalence, accounting for hearing aid coverage, cause, and the presence of tinnitus. We also forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss until 2050. Findings An estimated 1·57 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·51–1·64) people globally had hearing loss in 2019, accounting for one in five people (20·3% [19·5–21·1]). Of these, 403·3 million (357·3–449·5) people had hearing loss that was moderate or higher in severity after adjusting for hearing aid use, and 430·4 million (381·7–479·6) without adjustment. The largest number of people with moderate-to-complete hearing loss resided in the Western Pacific region (127·1 million people [112·3–142·6]). Of all people with a hearing impairment, 62·1% (60·2–63·9) were older than 50 years. The Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index explained 65·8% of the variation in national age-standardised rates of years lived with disability, because countries with a low HAQ Index had higher rates of years lived with disability. By 2050, a projected 2·45 billion (2·35–2·56) people will have hearing loss, a 56·1% (47·3–65·2) increase from 2019, despite stable age-standardised prevalence. Interpretation As populations age, the number of people with hearing loss will increase. Interventions such as childhood screening, hearing aids, effective management of otitis media and meningitis, and cochlear implants have the potential to ameliorate this burden. Because the burden of moderate-to-complete hearing loss is concentrated in countries with low health-care quality and access, stronger health-care provision mechanisms are needed to reduce the burden of unaddressed hearing loss in these settings. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and WHO.

Articles Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability

Article

Mar 2021

Vahit YİĞİT Vahit YİĞİT Associate Professor, Suleyman Demirel University, Department of Healthcare Management. GBD Collaborator, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. View full profile Feed post Vahit YİĞİTStatus is online Vahit YİĞİT Associate Professor, Suleyman Demirel University, Department of Healthcare Management. GBD Collaborator, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. 1d • Edited • 1 day ago İşitme kaybı; bilinci, gelişimi ve sosyal refahı olumsuz yönde etkileyebilen bir durumdur. Küresel Hastalık Yükü çalışmamıza göre 2019'da dünya genelinde tahmini 1, 5 milyar kişi işitme kaybı yaşamış olup başka bir ifadeyle dünyada beş kişiden biri işitme problemi olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Sağlık Hizmetlerine Erişim ve Kalite (HAQ) Endeksi düşük olan ülkelerin daha yüksek işitme kaybı yaygınlığına sahiptir. 2050 yılına kadar işitme engelli kişi sayısı 2.5 milyar olacağı tahmin edilmektedir. Nüfus yaşlandıkça, işitme kaybı olan kişilerin sayısı artacaktır. Çocukluk çağı taraması, işitme cihazları, otitis media ve menenjitin etkili yönetimi ile koklear implantlar gibi müdahaleler bu yükü hafifletme potansiyeline sahiptir. Sağlık hizmeti kalitesi ve erişimi düşük ülkelerde, işitme kaybının yükünü azaltmak için daha güçlü sağlık hizmeti sunum mekanizmalarına ihtiyaç vardır.

Articles Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability.

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Mar 2021

Deepak Dhamnetiya

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990-2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Article

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability.

Articles Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability.

Articles Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Mohammad Ali Moni

Articles Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability

Article

Mar 2021

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability. Methods We did systematic reviews of population-representative surveys on hearing loss prevalence from 1990 to 2019. We fitted nested meta-regression models for severity-specific prevalence, accounting for hearing aid coverage, cause, and the presence of tinnitus. We also forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss until 2050. Findings An estimated 1·57 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·51–1·64) people globally had hearing loss in 2019, accounting for one in five people (20·3% [19·5–21·1]). Of these, 403·3 million (357·3–449·5) people had hearing loss that was moderate or higher in severity after adjusting for hearing aid use, and 430·4 million (381·7–479·6) without adjustment. The largest number of people with moderate-to-complete hearing loss resided in the Western Pacific region (127·1 million people [112·3–142·6]). Of all people with a hearing impairment, 62·1% (60·2–63·9) were older than 50 years. The Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index explained 65·8% of the variation in national age-standardised rates of years lived with disability, because countries with a low HAQ Index had higher rates of years lived with disability. By 2050, a projected 2·45 billion (2·35–2·56) people will have hearing loss, a 56·1% (47·3–65·2) increase from 2019, despite stable age-standardised prevalence. Interpretation As populations age, the number of people with hearing loss will increase. Interventions such as childhood screening, hearing aids, effective management of otitis media and meningitis, and cochlear implants have the potential to ameliorate this burden. Because the burden of moderate-to-complete hearing loss is concentrated in countries with low health-care quality and access, stronger health-care provision mechanisms are needed to reduce the burden of unaddressed hearing loss in these settings.

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition’s associated disability. MethodsWe did systematic reviews of population-representative surveys on hearing loss prevalence from 1990 to 2019. We fitted nested meta-regression models for severity-specific prevalence, accounting for hearing aid coverage, cause, and the presence of tinnitus. We also forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss until 2050. Findings An estimated 1·57 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·51–1·64) people globally had hearing loss in 2019, accounting for one in five people (20·3% [19·5–21·1]). Of these, 403·3 million (357·3–449·5) people had hearing loss that was moderate or higher in severity after adjusting for hearing aid use, and 430·4 million (381·7–479·6) without adjustment. The largest number of people with moderate-to-complete hearing loss resided in the Western Pacific region (127·1 million people [112·3–142·6]). Of all people with a hearing impairment, 62·1% (60·2–63·9) were older than 50 years. The Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index explained 65·8% of the variation in national agestandardised rates of years lived with disability, because countries with a low HAQ Index had higher rates of years lived with disability. By 2050, a projected 2·45 billion (2·35–2·56) people will have hearing loss, a 56·1% (47·3–65·2) increase from 2019, despite stable age-standardised prevalence. Interpretation As populations age, the number of people with hearing loss will increase. Interventions such as childhood screening, hearing aids, effective management of otitis media and meningitis, and cochlear implants have the potential to ameliorate this burden. Because the burden of moderate-to-complete hearing loss is concentrated in countries with low health-care quality and access, stronger health-care provision mechanisms are needed to reduce the burden of unaddressed hearing loss in these settings.

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability.

Articles Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability

Article

Mar 2021
LANCET

Rezaul Karim Ripon

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability.

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability.

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Mar 2021

Animut Tagele Tamiru

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability.

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990-2019: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability. Methods We did systematic reviews of population-representative surveys on hearing loss prevalence from 1990 to 2019. We fitted nested meta-regression models for severity-specific prevalence, accounting for hearing aid coverage, cause, and the presence of tinnitus. We also forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss until 2050. Findings An estimated 1·57 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·51–1·64) people globally had hearing loss in 2019, accounting for one in five people (20·3% [19·5–21·1]). Of these, 403·3 million (357·3–449·5) people had hearing loss that was moderate or higher in severity after adjusting for hearing aid use, and 430·4 million (381·7–479·6) without adjustment. The largest number of people with moderate-to-complete hearing loss resided in the Western Pacific region (127·1 million people [112·3–142·6]). Of all people with a hearing impairment, 62·1% (60·2–63·9) were older than 50 years. The Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index explained 65·8% of the variation in national age-standardised rates of years lived with disability, because countries with a low HAQ Index had higher rates of years lived with disability. By 2050, a projected 2·45 billion (2·35–2·56) people will have hearing loss, a 56·1% (47·3–65·2) increase from 2019, despite stable age-standardised prevalence. Interpretation As populations age, the number of people with hearing loss will increase. Interventions such as childhood screening, hearing aids, effective management of otitis media and meningitis, and cochlear implants have the potential to ameliorate this burden. Because the burden of moderate-to-complete hearing loss is concentrated in countries with low health-care quality and access, stronger health-care provision mechanisms are needed to reduce the burden of unaddressed hearing loss in these settings. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and WHO.

A new approach to estimating the prevalence of hereditary hearing loss: An analysis of the distribution of sign language users based on census data in Russia

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2020
PLOS ONE

The absence of comparable epidemiological data challenges the correct estimation of the prevalence of congenital hearing loss (HL) around the world. Sign language (SL) is known as the main type of communication of deaf people. We suggest that the distribution of SL can be interpreted as an indirect indicator of the prevalence of congenital HL. Since a significant part of congenital HL is due to genetic causes, an assessment of the distribution of SL users can reveal regions with an extensive accumulation of hereditary HL. For the first time, we analyzed the data on the distribution of SL users that became available for the total population of Russia by the 2010 census. Seventy-three out of 85 federal regions of Russia were ranked into three groups by the 25th and 75th percentiles of the proportion of SL users: 14 regions—“low proportion”; 48 regions—“average proportion”; and 11 regions—“high proportion”. We consider that the observed uneven prevalence of SL users can reflect underlying hereditary forms of congenital HL accumulated in certain populations by specific genetic background and population structure. At least, the data from this study indicate that the highest proportions of SL users detected in some Siberian regions are consistent with the reported accumulation of specific hereditary HL forms in indigenous Yakut, Tuvinian and Altaian populations.

Assessment and Modeling of the Influence of Age, Gender, and Family History of Hearing Problems on the Probability of Suffering Hearing Loss in the Working Population

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2020
Int J Environ Res Publ Health

Hearing loss affects hundreds of millions of people all over the world, leading to several types of disabilities, ranging from purely physical to psychological and/or social aspects. A proper analysis to ascertain the main risk factors is essential in order to diagnose early and treat adequately. An exploratory analysis based on a heterogeneous sample of 1418 workers is presented in order to identify the main trigger factors for hearing loss. On the one hand, we recorded several medical and environmental parameters, and on the other, we created a model based on Bayesian networks in order to be able to infer the probability of hearing loss considering different scenarios. This paper focuses on three parameters: gender, age, and a family history of hearing problems. The results obtained allow us to infer or predict the best or worst auditory level for an individual under several different scenarios. The least relevant factor is the existence of a family history of deafness, followed by the gender factor, which slopes considerably toward better hearing for females, and most prominent of all, the age factor, given the large differences identified between the various age groups when the gender and family history of deafness variables remain constant. View Full-Text

Zumbido, Estresse e Níveis de Zinco no Contexto Universitário: Revisão Integrativa

Article

Full-text available

May 2020

Objetivo: buscar a avaliação crítica e a síntese das evidências disponíveis sobre a relação entre o zumbido, o estresse e os níveis de zinco em alunos e trabalhadores docentes e não docentes de Instituições de Ensino Superior. Materiais e métodos: Realizou-se um levantamento bibliográfico em bases eletrônicas de dados (Lilacs, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cinhal, Academic Search Premier, Science Direct), com busca bibliográfica padronizada, utilizando-se palavras-chave e descritores específicos procurando todos os resumos de estudos pertinentes à questão proposta. Foram estabelecidos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Dos títulos obtidos buscou-se selecionar aqueles que tivessem, pelo menos, um dos elementos da tríade: zumbido, estresse e níveis de zinco. Após a leitura dos textos completos, estes foram resenhados de acordo com ficha protocolar e obtidos quatro estudos incluídos na Revisão Integrativa. Resultados: Tornou-se evidente que o ruído pode causar zumbido e gerar queixas e sintomas na audição e, também, na saúde em geral. Em nenhum dos estudos foi identificado que o zinco demonstrasse uma possível associação com o zumbido no organismo, assim como com o estresse. Conclusão: Faltam estudos para que se consiga comprovar uma melhor evidência na literatura sobre a existência de relação entre a tríade zumbido, estresse e níveis de zinco na população pesquisada.

Oral Expressive Outcomes in Late-Identified Children With Hearing Loss

Article

Apr 2020

This case study described the oral expressive outcomes of five children with hearing loss who experienced prolonged auditory deprivation prior to participating in an auditory intervention. Expressive outcomes were measured by the number of spontaneous words and imitations. Visual analyses revealed that two of the five participants increased their oral expressive skills during the intervention. The results suggest that children with hearing loss who are late identified and aided can still develop some basic oral expressive skills, but they would probably benefit from interventions that directly target the use of words expressively.

Health Utility Scores of Hearing-Impaired Thais

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2019

Objective: To assess the health utility scores of Thais with hearing loss, which can be used as a reference value for assessing health-related quality of life and economic evaluations in any interventions among hearing-impaired persons in Thailand. Material and Methods: All hearing-impaired persons who visited Songklanagarind Hospital between January and June 2019 were recruited for the study. The demographic and clinical data of the participants including gender, age, and type and degree of hearing loss were collected. A health-related quality of life interview was conducted using the EuroQoL five-dimensional questionnaire, Thai version. Independent t-test and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to assess which factors were associated independently with the health utility scores. Results: One hundred and eleven participants, 46 males and 65 females, ranging in age from 22 to 92 years, were recruited for the study. The average health utility scores were 0.81 and 0.86 for subjects not using and using hearing aids, respectively, similar to the results from other nations. The average health utility score of subjects with underlying diseases (0.79) was lower than the average health utility score of subjects without underlying diseases (0.87) with statistical significance (p-value=0.038). Additionally, the pure tone average in the better ear was the only variable significantly associated with the health utility scores (regression coefficient: -0.004, p-value=0.002). Conclusion: The average health utility scores among hearing-impaired Thais were 0.81 and 0.86 for subjects not using and using hearing aids, respectively.

Evidence for an Association Between Hearing Impairment and Disrupted Sleep: Scoping Review

Article

Full-text available

Oct 2019
Am J Audiol

Purpose Hearing impairment (HI) is the most common sensory impairment and may negatively impact sleep through reduced auditory input. Factors associated with HI such as anxiety regarding communication in daily life may also adversely impact an individual's sleep. Here, research on the relationship between HI and sleep disruption was catalogued using scoping review methodology. Method A systematic strategy was employed to search various electronic databases. This review is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Scoping Review Extension. Results Sixteen records met inclusion criteria. Studies have investigated sleep in HI as a primary aim in noise-exposed workers or large surveys in older participants. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies report alterations to sleep architecture of potential neuroplastic origins. Studies reporting sleep as a secondary aim generally report poorer sleep in HI participants. Conclusions This scoping review has catalogued evidence that altered or negatively impacted sleep may be associated with HI. Potential confounding factors, mechanisms, and considerations for future research are discussed. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9968369

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Article

Nov 2024

Background and Objectives This study aims to analyze trends in hearing disability and the use of hearing rehabilitation devices (hearing aids and cochlear implants) in South Korea over the past 11 years (2010-2020) using data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).Subjects and Method Data were extracted from the NHIS database, covering approximately 97% of the South Korean population. Patients diagnosed with hearing loss were classified using ICD-10 codes. The data were analyzed to determine trends in hearing disability, hearing aid prescriptions, and cochlear implant usage by age, gender, and types and causes of hearing loss.Results The number of hearing disability patients increased from 170900 in 2010 to 362738 in 2020, with an annual growth rate of 7.95%. The highest increase was observed in the ≥60 age group, with an annual growth rate of 11.04%. Hearing aid prescriptions rose from 4966 in 2010 to 11974 in 2020, showing a 10.45% annual increase. Females showed a higher growth rate in both hearing disability and hearing aid prescriptions compared to males. Cochlear implant prescriptions also increased, particularly among older adults.Conclusion The study highlights a significant rise in hearing disability and the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants in South Korea, especially among the elderly. The findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for hearing loss and the need for policy improvements to enhance accessibility and affordability of hearing rehabilitation services. Additional strategies are needed to ensure appropriate hearing rehabilitation for those not yet receiving adequate care.

Research Agenda and Applications for Preliminarily Validated Measures of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma

Article

Sep 2024
Ear Hear

In this special supplement of Ear and Hearing , we have presented preliminarily validated measures for stigma related to being d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) in the United States and Ghana. In this concluding article, we suggest avenues for the future refinement and use of these measures. First, the measures should be further validated. Second, they should be used to assess the current state of d/DHH stigma and the importance of different kinds of stigma in different populations, which should in turn drive the development of interventions to reduce d/DHH stigma. Third, these measures can assist in evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of those interventions. The evidence from this work can then inform investment cases and cost-of-condition studies, which will support advocacy efforts and policy development for reducing stigma and improving the lives of people who are d/DHH.

National Infant Screening for Hearing Program in India: Necessity, Significance and Justification

Article

Aug 2021

Hearing impairment is one of the most prevalent disorder in children and adults worldwide, which not only interferes with the acquisition, development and maintenance of speech and language skills but also adversely deprive the auditory nervous system for future learning. It can have long term harmful effect on educational, social, emotional and cognitive skills in young children; restrict the vocational options and employment opportunities in adults; and can cause isolation, loneliness and depression in older adults, if remain undetected and intervened at the earliest. However, early identification and intervention is known to greatly reverse the ill effects and improve the quality of life of children and adults with hearing impairment. Current clinical means and methods to identify and intervene hearing loss are convenient, cost effective, reasonably accurate beneficial and evidenced based, can be easily employed nation-wide for early identification and intervention of hearing loss. This paper attempts to convince medical colleagues, public health care experts and policy makers by justifying the hearing, as public health issue and relevance of medical screening criteria for hearing. It also discusses the preferred model of hearing screening and intervention strategies in India.

Sprachverstehen im Oldenburger Kindersatztest (OlKiSa) von Kindern nach Cochlea-Implantat-Versorgung

Thesis

Jan 2021

Marius Ochs

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG 1. Hintergrund und Ziele Seit fast einer Dekade ist der Oldenburger Kinder-Satztest (OlKiSa) am Cochlear-Implant-Centrum der Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik Erlangen als audiometrischer Test zur Bestimmung des Sprachverstehens bei Kindern mit Cochlea-Implantat (CI) etabliert. Studien zur OlKiSa-Leistung CI-versorgter Kinder gibt es bisher kaum. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist die retrospektive Analyse des Sprachverstehens im OlKiSa bei hörgeschädigten Kindern nach der Versorgung mit Cochlea-Implantaten. Hierbei sollen die Sprachverständnis-Leistungen der Cochlea-Implantat-versorgten Kinder dargestellt werden, sowie der Einfluss des Versorgungsalters der Patienten auf deren Testergebnisse geprüft werden. Ergänzend werden unter anderem die Einflussfaktoren Migrationshintergrund und Komorbidität analysiert. 2. Methoden Es wurden 64 Kinder untersucht, die vor dem sechsten Lebensjahr mit einem Cochlea-Implantat versorgt wurden. Sie wurden im Laufe der Jahre 2010 bis 2019 im Cochlear-Implant-Centrum Erlangen ambulant therapiert. Ihre Sprachverstehensleistung wurde mittels OlKiSa gemessen. Die Messbedingungen des OlKiSa sind unterteilt nach: adaptive Freifeld-Messung im Störgeräusch (Adaptiv), nicht-adaptive Freifeld-Messung im Störgeräusch (Störfix) und nicht-adaptive Freifeld-Messung in Ruhe (In Ruhe). Es fanden Auswertungen zur Verteilung des Patientenalters und des Höralters zu den Messzeitpunkten statt. Die gesamten OlKiSa-Leistungen wurden miteinander verglichen und zum Teil unter dem Einfluss von Komorbidität und Migrationshintergrund geprüft. Des Weiteren wurde der Einfluss des Versorgungsalters auf die OlKiSa-Leistungen ermittelt. Außerdem wurden die Messbedingungen Adaptiv und Störfix auf Sensibilität miteinander verglichen. 9 3. Ergebnisse und Beobachtungen Es kamen verschiedene Messbedingungen in unterschiedlichen Altersklassen zur Anwendung. OlKiSa-Tests im Störgeräusch wurden im Mittel 1⁄2 ‒ 11⁄4 Jahre später absolviert als der Test in Ruhe. Dies spiegelt die höhere Schwierigkeit des Verstehens im Störgeräusch bei CI-versorgten Kindern wider. Die OlKiSa- Leistungen waren sehr unterschiedlich und weit gestreut. Im Vergleich zu anderen Studien resultierte ein etwas schlechterer Mittelwert. Neben der unterschiedlichen Anzahl an Messungen hing dies bei näherer Betrachtung auch mit den Variablen Komorbidität und Migrationshintergrund zusammen. Insgesamt lagen die Mittelwerte für die OlKiSa-Leistungen In Ruhe bei 78,55 % Sprachverstehen, für die nicht-adaptive Messung im Störgeräusch Störfix je nach Messsituation zwischen 73,41 bis 77,77 % Sprachverstehen und die Sprachverständnisschwelle bei der Adaptiven Messung im Störgeräusch (L50) bei einem Mittelwert von -0,05 bis -0,56 dB SNR. Korrelationsberechnungen zeigten, dass Patienten mit Komorbidität schlechtere (-7 Prozentpunkte im Sprachverstehen) und Patienten mit Migrationshintergrund sogar signifikant schlechtere Werte erzielten (-18 Prozentpunkte im Sprachverstehen, p- Wert = 0,015). Bezüglich der Zusammenhänge zwischen CI-Versorgungsalter und OlKiSa-Leistungen konnte man bei 60 Messungen in Ruhe signifikant bestätigen (p-Wert = 0,0485), dass spätversorgte Kinder bei einem Korrelationswert von rho = -0,256 schlechtere Sprachverstehensleistungen zeigten als frühversorgte. Der Vergleich der nicht-adaptiven Störfix Messung und der Adaptiven Messung zeigte, dass ein gutes Abschneiden im nicht- adaptiven Test nicht mit einem guten Abschneiden im adaptiven Test gleichzusetzen ist. 4. Schlussfolgerungen Diese Studie zeigt, dass frühversorgte Kinder mit einem Cochlea-Implantat zumeist ein besseres Sprachverstehen erwerben als spätversorgte. Dies bestätigt die klinische Empfehlung, die CI-Versorgung hörgeschädigter Kinder möglichst frühzeitig durchzuführen. 10 Um im Alltag beste Ergebnisse für diese Kinder zu erzielen, wären regelmäßige Tests vor allem im Störgeräusch und ein regelmäßiges Anpassen der Cochlea-Implantate ratsam. Weitere Studien sollten Patienten mit Komorbiditäten und Migrationshintergrund separat untersuchen, da in den jeweiligen Vergleichsgruppen doch erhebliche Leistungsunterschiede zu erkennen waren. Gegebenenfalls wären Tests abhängig von der Kondition des Patienten oder in der jeweiligen Muttersprache sinnvoll. Für zukünftige Studien wäre zudem eine detaillierte vergleichende Betrachtung der Tests im Störgeräusch (Adaptiv und Störfix) empfehlenswert. Von Interesse ist hierbei, unter welchen Umständen der adaptive Test dem nicht-adaptiven Test überlegen ist und umgekehrt.

A National Survey of Hearing Loss in the Philippines

Article

Jul 2020

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hearing loss in the Philippines using a nationally representative sample. A cross-sectional national survey was undertaken utilizing a 3-stage stratified cluster design. Participants in the present study comprised 2275 adults and children with pure tone hearing assessment results. Prevalence of moderate or worse hearing loss, defined as 4FA ≥41 dBHL, was 7.5% in children <18 years, 14.7% in adults between 18 and 65 years, and 49.1% in adults >65 years. Factors associated with greater risk of moderate hearing loss in the better ear were presence of a middle ear condition (adjusted odds ratio = 2.39, 95% confidence interval = 1.49-3.85) and socioeconomic status (household income; adjusted odds ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval = 1.23-2.19). Age was also associated with increased risk, with adjusted odds ratios varying with age category. Prevalence of wax occlusion and outer and middle ear disease was 12.2% and 14.2%, respectively. Prevalence of hearing loss, outer, and middle ear disease appear comparatively high in the Philippines when compared with rates reported in high-income countries. Higher proportions of severe to profound hearing loss were also identified, indicating that there is both an increased prevalence and severity of hearing loss in this population.

A Study on the Relationship between Cognitive Performance, Hearing Impairment, and Frailty in Older Adults

Article

Apr 2020

Introduction: As the human lifespan rises, older people are increasingly affected by multimorbidity, including hearing impairment (HI), frailty, and cognitive decline. Objective: We studied the effect of HI on the cognitive performance of older patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia and how this effect is altered when HI and frailty coexist. Methods: The sample comprised 172 outpatients (age ≥65 years) with a Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5-1 and a Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥20. Cognitive, neuropsychological, physical function tests, and body measurements were performed. The participants' comorbidity indices were calculated, and they were asked to report their hearing condition. Finally, the participants were divided into 4 groups based on the presence of frailty, HI, both conditions, or neither. Results: The presence of HI was significantly associated with a lower Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) score (unadjusted model: p = 0.003; adjusted: p = 0.012). Moreover, people with both HI and frailty were more likely to have a low DSST score than those in the other groups (unadjusted model: OR: 3.741, 95% CI: 1.374-10.183, p = 0.010; adjusted model: OR: 4.192, 95% CI: 1.026-17.136, p = 0.046). Conclusions: This study highlights the negative relationship between cognitive performance scored on the DSST and the presence of HI. Furthermore, the presence of both frailty and HI is associated with a worse cognitive score than HI alone.

Field test of the Rapid Assessment of Hearing Loss survey protocol in Ntcheu district, Malawi

Article

Mar 2020

Objective: (1) To test the feasibility of the Rapid Assessment of Hearing Loss (RAHL) survey protocol in Malawi (Ntcheu); (2) To estimate the prevalence and probable causes of hearing loss (adults 50+). Design: Cross-sectional population-based survey. Study sample: Clusters (n = 38) were selected using probability-proportionate-to-size-sampling. Within each cluster, 30 people aged 50+ were selected using compact-segment-sampling. All participants completed smartphone-based audiometry (hearTest). Prevalence was estimated using WHO definitions (PTA of thresholds 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz in the better ear of >25 dB HL (any) and >40 dB HL (≥moderate)). Otoscopy and questionnaire were used to assess probable causes. Participants with hearing loss and/or ear disease were asked about care-seeking and barriers. Results: Four teams completed the survey in 24 days. 1080 of 1153 (93.7%) participants were examined. The median time to complete the protocol was 24 min/participant. Prevalence of hearing loss was 35.9% (95% CI = 31.6–40.2) (any level); and 10.0% (95% CI = 7.9–12.5) (≥moderate). The majority was classified as probable sensorineural. Nearly one third of people (30.9%) needed diagnostic audiology services and possible hearing aid fitting. Hearing aid coverage was <1%. Lack of perceived need was a key barrier. Conclusion: The RAHL is simple, fast and provides information about the magnitude and probable causes of hearing loss to plan services.

Auditory Characteristics in Patients With Mucopolysaccharidosis

Article

Oct 2019

Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate audiologic findings according to mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) subtypes and to estimate hearing changes as the disease progressed, as well as the therapeutic effect of enzyme replacement therapy on the hearing apparatus. Methods: A total of 124 patients who were diagnosed with MPS between September 1994 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Play audiometry or pure-tone audiometry was performed for hearing assessment, and auditory brainstem response was conducted in patients with poor compliance. Results: In total 124 patients were identified, ranging in age at diagnosis from 0 to 33 years. Fourteen of the patients had been diagnosed with type I, while 91 had type II, 2 had type III, 14 had type IV, and 3 had type VI. Mean bone conduction and air conduction for the better ear were 26.13±16.95 dB and 34.77 ± 20.00 dB in all patients, and 34.20±7.64 dB and 40.70±9.67 dB in patients with MPS II. The average auditory brainstem response threshold was 68.96 ±21.93 dB nHL. The most common type of hearing loss was pure sensorineural hearing loss in all subtypes, and the degree of hearing loss was variable mostly within the mild to severe range. The increase in the hearing threshold was also significantly correlated with the disease duration. However, the change in hearing level was not correlated with the duration of enzyme replacement therapy. Conclusions: Hearing impairment in MPS patients is common and is aggravated as the disease progresses. Thus, adequate intervention and hearing rehabilitation might play an important role in managing hearing disabilities in MPS patients.