Prevalence of Hearing Impairment in School-Going Children of Rural Areas: An Observational Study
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Hearing impairment is a leading sensory deficit among school-going children, particularly in rural settings. Early identification is crucial for preventing long-term educational and developmental consequences.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of hearing impairment among school-going children in rural areas of Ujjain district; to identify common etiological factors; and to assess the pattern and degree of hearing loss using pure tone audiometry and impedance audiometry.
Methods: An observational study was conducted in government and private rural schools of Ujjain district from 2024 to 2026. A total of 2020 children aged 5–18 years (classes 1st–12th) were enrolled. All participants underwent ENT examination, tuning fork tests, and suspected children underwent pure tone audiometry (PTA), and impedance audiometry. Hearing impairment was classified using standard audiological criteria. Statistical analysis employed descriptive statistics and chi-square tests (p < 0.05).
Results: Hearing impairment was found in 385 (19.1%) children. Prevalence increased progressively with age: 10.5% (5–10 years), 22.5% (11–15 years), and 29.6% (15–18 years). Gender distribution was nearly equal (males 54.4%, females 45.6%). Conductive hearing loss predominated (86.5%), followed by sensorineural (7.0%) and mixed (6.5%). Major diagnoses included otitis media with effusion (30.6%), chronic suppurative otitis media (31.2%), impacted wax (15.1%), and congenital deafness (10.1%). Most cases had mild to moderate hearing loss. Associated nasal findings included bilateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy (60.8%), and throat findings included bilateral anterior pillar congestion (66.2%) and adenoid hypertrophy (20.0%).
Conclusion: Hearing impairment affects nearly one in five rural school-going children in Ujjain district, predominantly due to preventable conductive causes. Regular school-based hearing screening, early treatment of ear infections, and strengthening rural ENT services are strongly recommended.
Article Details
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
REFERENCES
1. Varsha M, Rao PK, Reddy K, Kumar S. Prevalence of speech, language and hearing impairments in school-going children from rural areas: a longitudinal study. J Commun Disord. 2020;86:105965.
2. Mulwafu W, Kuper H, Ensink R, Fagan JJ. Prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in Africa. Trop Med Int Health. 2016;21(2):158–165.
3. Marlenga B, Berg RL, Linneman JG, Brison RJ. Long-term effectiveness of a high school hearing conservation program. J Adolesc Health. 2011;49(5):529–535.
4. Axelsson A, Lindgren F, Lindgren M. Hearing in school children: a four-year longitudinal study. Scand Audiol. 1987;16(3):127–136.
5. Le Clercq CMP, Goedegebure A, Jaddoe VWV, Raat H, Baatenburg de Jong RJ, van der Schroeff MP. Prevalence of hearing loss among children 9 to 11 years old: the Generation R Study. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;143(9):928–934.
6. Wang J, Zhang L, Xu J, Li Y, Ding G, Zhao F. Prevalence of hearing loss and associated factors among Chinese children aged 6–14 years: a national survey. PLoS One. 2020;15(3):e0229971.
7. Parving A, Christensen B. Hearing disorders in childhood: a comparative and longitudinal study. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 1992;24(2):117–127.
8. Emmett SD, Robler SK, Wang NY, Labrique AB, Francis HW. Hearing loss in rural Alaska: a randomized controlled trial of telemedicine referral. BMJ Open. 2019;9(3):e023113.
9. Kargın T. Effectiveness of a family-focused early intervention program on children with hearing loss in rural Turkey. Eur J Spec Needs Educ. 2004;19(1):37–54.
10. Pascolini D, Smith A. Hearing impairment in 2008: a compilation of available epidemiological studies. Int J Audiol. 2009;48(7):473–485.
11. Watkin PM, Baldwin M, McEnery G. Neonatal hearing screening and early diagnosis of permanent childhood hearing impairment. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1999;81(2):F93–F97.
12. van der Schroeff MP, Goedegebure A, Jaddoe VWV, Raat H, Baatenburg de Jong RJ. School careers of children with hearing loss in the Netherlands. Arch Dis Child. 2013;98(11):865–870.
13. Kumar S, Aramani A, Mathew M, Bhat M. Prevalence of hearing impairment amongst school-going children in the rural field practice area of an institution. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(2):150–155.
14. Parvez A, Siddiqui AR, Khan Z, Hasmi SF, Khan MS. Prevalence and etiological factors of hearing impairment among school going children in rural area of district Aligarh. Indian J Otolaryngol. 2010-11.
15. Saini S, Bist SS, Kumar L. Prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in rural Dehradun. Indian J Otolaryngol. 2020.
16. Skarżyński PH, Gos E, Świerniak W, Skarżyński H. Prevalence of hearing loss among Polish school-age children from rural areas – results of a hearing screening programme in a sample of 67,416 children. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019.
17. Dhingra PL, Dhingra S. Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat. 6th ed. New Delhi: Elsevier; 2014.
18. World Health Organization. World Report on Hearing. Geneva: WHO; 2021.
19. Census of India. Disabled Population – Its Characteristics, 2011. New Delhi: Registrar General of India; 2016.
20. Cheatham MA. Cochlear function reflected in mammalian hair cell responses. Prog Brain Res. 1993;97:13–19.