Results of hearing screening of school-age children in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Aim: To gauge the prevalence of hearing loss in school children in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and refer pupils with positive results for further diagnostic testing. Background: According to WHO data, hearing disorders are common in school-age children. Screening for hearing loss is an important preventative tool, helping to avoid further complications. Expenditure that supports early child development can reduce future outlay on health care and social services; it can eliminate disability problems, education deficits, and social maladaptation in later adult life. Methods: Pure-tone air-conduction hearing thresholds were obtained at 0.5–8 kHz. The results of the hearing screening examination were regarded as positive if pure-tone thresholds were higher than 20 dB HL in one or both ears at one or more of the test frequencies. Data were also obtained from follow-up visits of children who failed the initial screening. Findings: This study included 452 children aged 7–13 years old. Based on audiograms, screening showed that 123 (27.2%) of the children had hearing impairment. The study has important implications for clinical practice and health policy. There is a need for systematic monitoring of hearing status among children of this age, and parents and educators need to be made aware of the significance of hearing loss.

Hearing Screening among First-Grade Children in Rural Areas and Small Towns in Małopolskie Voivodeship, Poland

“…In comparison, the prevalence of hearing loss children attending rural schools and small towns throughout Poland has been estimated as 16.4% [ 22 ]. Data from pilot hearing screening projects, conducted by the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing in various African countries, have shown the prevalence of hearing loss (18–34%) [ 29 ], and in Asian countries the prevalence is 15.9–24.1% [ 21 , 26 ]. For comparison, the percentage of children in India with hearing loss was found to be 11.9% (more than 1 in 8 children) [ 30 ], and in Iran it was found that 10% of children aged 7–8 years old may have a hearing problem [ 31 ].…”

“…Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average higher than 20 dB in at least one of the following pure-tone averages: four-frequency pure-tone average (FFPTA), high-frequency pure-tone average (HFPTA), and low-frequency pure-tone average (LFPTA). Firstly, speech relevant hearing loss was defined as the four-frequency pure-tone average (FFPTA) at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz at a value for a threshold of >20 dB [ 25 , 26 ]. HFPTA were defined as a pure-tone average above 2 kHz (4 and 8 kHz) [ 22 , 27 ] and LFPTA at 0.5, 1, 2 kHz [ 24 , 28 ] at a value for a threshold of >20 dB HL.…”

“…HFPTA were defined as a pure-tone average above 2 kHz (4 and 8 kHz) [ 22 , 27 ] and LFPTA at 0.5, 1, 2 kHz [ 24 , 28 ] at a value for a threshold of >20 dB HL. Unilateral hearing loss was diagnosed when there was normal hearing in one ear and hearing loss in the other [ 26 ].…”

Personal Music Players Use and Other Noise Hazards among Children 11 to 12 Years Old

“…For each ear separately, air conduction thresholds at conventional octave frequencies from 0.5 to 8 kHz were determined with the same paradigms as in a previous study [ 27 , 29 , 32 ] as well as at half-octave frequencies of 3 and 6 kHz. Measurements at 125 and 250 Hz were omitted as being less useful and vulnerable to noise disturbance [ 33 ].…”

“…Screening pure tone audiometry was conducted in a quiet room allocated by the school headmaster. The examination was performed on the Platform for Sensory Organs Examination [27,29,30] connected to the "SZOK" ® central database [31]. The system is based on a powerful central computer with multiple portable computers communicating with it via the Internet.…”