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Paediatric hearing loss: a community-based survey in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2019

R Larsen-Reindorf ,
E Otupiri ,
J E Anomah ,
B M Edwards ,
B Frimpong ,
B Waller ,
M E Prince  and
G J Basura
R Larsen-Reindorf
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Hearing Assessment Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
E Otupiri
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
J E Anomah
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Hearing Assessment Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
B M Edwards
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
B Frimpong
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Hearing Assessment Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
B Waller
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
M E Prince
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
G J Basura*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Gregory J Basura, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Otology/Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, 1500 W Medical Center Drive, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA E-mail: gbasura@umich.edu Fax: +1 (734) 764 0014
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Abstract

Background

Paediatric hearing loss rates in Ghana are currently unknown.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana; children (aged 3–15 years) were recruited from randomly selected households. Selected children underwent otoscopic examination prior to in-community pure tone screening using the portable ShoeBox audiometer. The LittlEars auditory questionnaire was also administered to caregivers and parents.

Results

Data were collected from 387 children. After conditioning, 362 children were screened using monaural pure tones presented at 25 dB. Twenty-five children could not be conditioned to behavioural audiometric screening. Eight children were referred based on audiometric screening results. Of those, four were identified as having hearing loss. Four children scored less than the maximum mark of 35 on the LittleEars questionnaire. Of those, three had hearing loss as identified through pure tone screening. The predominant physical finding on otoscopy was ear canal cerumen impaction.

Conclusion

Paediatric hearing loss is prevalent in Ghana, and should be treated as a public health problem warranting further evaluation and epidemiology characterisation.

Keywords

Hearing LossPediatricsIncidenceHearing TestsScreeningGhana
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 9 , September 2019 , pp. 796 - 804
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

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Footnotes

Dr G J Basura takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented orally at the 9th Annual Coalition for Global Hearing Health International Conference, 27–28 October 2018, Cape Town, South Africa.

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