Background: Early detection of infants with permanent hearing loss through infant hearing screening is recognised and routinely offered as a vital component of early childhood care in developed countries. This article investigates the initiatives and progress towards early detection of infants with hearing loss in developing countries against the backdrop of the dearth of epidemiological data from this region.

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.

Objective To determine the cost-effectiveness of cochlear implantation (CI) with mainstream education and deaf education with sign language for treatment of children with profound sensorineural hearing loss in low- and lower-middle income countries in Asia. Study Design Cost-effectiveness analysis. Setting Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka participated in the study. Subjects and Methods Costs were obtained from experts in each country with known costs and published data, with estimation when necessary. A disability-adjusted life-years model was applied with 3% discounting and 10-year length of analysis. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of device cost, professional salaries, annual number of implants, and probability of device failure. Cost-effectiveness was determined with the World Health Organization standard of cost-effectiveness ratio per gross domestic product (CER/GDP) per capita <3. Results Deaf education was cost-effective in all countries except Nepal (CER/GDP, 3.59). CI was cost-effective in all countries except Nepal (CER/GDP, 6.38) and Pakistan (CER/GDP, 3.14)—the latter of which reached borderline cost-effectiveness in the sensitivity analysis (minimum, maximum: 2.94, 3.39). Conclusion Deaf education and CI are largely cost-effective in participating Asian countries. Variation in CI maintenance and education-related costs may contribute to the range of cost-effectiveness ratios observed in this study.

Objective: To compare the incidence of acute otitis media among children aged 2 to 6 months old in Sampaloc, Manila who were previously given 3 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Non-Typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) protein D, diphtheria or tetanus toxoid conjugates) and those who did not receive the vaccine, over a period of one year. Methods: Study Design:             Cohort Study Setting:                       Primary Health Center in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines Participants:              Medical records of well children aged 2 to 6 months were reviewed for inclusion. Participants were categorized into vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Both groups underwent baseline history and physical examination including otoscopy and any signs and symptoms of active ear infection were noted.  Subjects were followed up for a period of 1 year on a monthly basis for signs or symptoms of acute otitis media. Results: A total of 176 subjects participated in the study. The overall incidence of AOM among participants was 5.11% (9 out of 176). An AOM incidence of 3.75% (3 out of 80) and 6.25% (6 out of 96) was found among the exposed and unexposed groups, respectively. Fisher’s exact test (one-tailed) p value =.34, relative risk (RR) .6 (95 percent CI 0.155, 2.323). Conclusion: The results of this study showed no difference in the development of AOM in the two groups. However, based on the relative risk, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is still beneficial in preventing AOM in children. Keywords: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; Acute Otitis Media

Objective:       To develop a simple, portable, inexpensive model for otolaryngology trainees to practice on and develop skills required for myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion. Materials and Methods:       Recycled plastic egg crate, a 3-cc plastic syringe, micropore™ tape and modeling clay were used to create a model to practice myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion utilizing tubes fashioned from a recycled 18 guage intravenous catheter. Result:            The model myringotomy practice set is an inexpensive, simple do-it-yourself device made of locally available, mostly recycled materials.   Key words:  myringotomy practice set, myringotomy, middle ear ventilation, tympanostomy, tympanostomy tube insertion, instrumentation