Reported Hearing Disability In Age 5 Years And Above In Lagos Nigeria

SUMMARY

Background: The causes of hearing impairment are many and varied due to geographical environmental, socio-economic and other factors. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the audiology clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital on patients who presented in the clinic primarily with reported hearing disability with the aim of determining the severity of hearing impairment and the causes in Lagos, Nigeria.

Results: A total of three hundred and eighty six patients were seen of which 81.3% reported with bilateral disability. Seven hundred and thirty six (736) ears were evaluated, 75.5% of the study population were in the age group 5-40yrs, who were mainly children and young adult encountering the disabling effect of hearing impairment. On audiometric assessment, 5.6% had normal hearing (loss < 25db), 32.3% had mild hearing loss (26-40db) and 62.1% had hearing loss of 41db and above. Asymmetric bilateral hearing loss was seen in 84% of the patient on assessment. On comparison the disagreement between the reported and measured hearing disability was significant both for unilateral and bilateral hearing, p=0.002 and p=0.005 respectively. Various forms of otitis media accounted for 24.4%, infectious diseases like measles, meningitis and mumps accounted for 9.5%, non infectious causes like ototoxicity, noise induced hearing loss etc accounted for 35.%, genetic causes 3.3% and the causes were undetermined in 27.4%.

Conclusion: In view of the disabling effect of this condition and the fact that the majority of the causes are preventable, there is a need to have a national policy to evolve a primary ear care programme for the prevention of hearing impairment and deafness in Nigeria. Niger. Med. J. 2003, Vol.44(2):34-37