Ahwaz, Iran

Author Affiliations: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran (Sarafraz M, Ahmadi K)

Corresponding Author:  Khashayar Ahmadi, MD, Flat 1, No 51, Siami Alley, Sattarkhan Avenue, Tehran, Iran (Tel: +982166919206; Fax:+9821 66423304; Email: dr.khashayar.ahmadi@gmail.com)

Background: Hearing loss is a common and considerable disability that harms educational performance of school children in developing countries like Iran. Lack of a simple and practical screening protocol often deters routine and systematic hearing screening at school entry.

Methods: This study was to establish a practical screening model for hearing loss in school-aged children based on a community-based, retrospective case-control study in Ilam, the capital of Ilam province in Iran. Results from the audiologic and non-audiologic examination of 785 children in primary schools were selected and examined. The non-audiologic evaluation consisted of medical history, general physical examination, while the audiologic assessment consisted of otoscopy, audiometry and tympanometry.

Results: Univariate analysis of non-audiologic variables showed an association between hearing loss and male gender (P<0.05) and the grade of study (P<0.05). The frequency of impaired hearing in the first grade of primary schools was significantly higher than the children in the second grade (P<0.05). In audiologic factors related to impaired hearing, otitis media with effusion (OME) was diagnosed significantly (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Routine screening based on the identification of OME will facilitate the detection of a major amount of hearing impaired school-aged children.

Key words: hearing loss; otitis media; screening; students

                   World J Pediatr 2009;5(1):46-50