Prevalence and Causes of Hearing Loss in a Sample of School children in the South Area of Santiago

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of hearing loss in childhood increases with age, as conductive hearing loss or late onset sensorioneural hearing lossare added, estimated at up to 9%. Aim: To determine the prevalence of hearing loss in a school sample. Material and method: Cross sectional study. 4 schools of San Bernardo and 2 of Lo Espejo were included. Results: We included 196 children. Mean age was 9.5 years. We evaluated 106 women (54%) and 90 men (46%). 11 cases (5.6%) of mild hearing loss in the right ear, and 9 cases (4.52%) of hearing loss in the left ear (8 in mild range, and 1 in moderate range) were observed. Six cases were bilateral hearing loss, unilateral hearing loss 5 in the right ear, and 3 of unilateral hearing loss in the left ear. All were conductive type. Causes of hearing loss wereotitis media with effusion, earwax, and chronic otitis media. There was 1 case of agenesis of the ear canal. Conclusion: Hearing loss is a common condition in school children, being primarily conductive. The prevalence is within expected. Beause of the consecuences of the hearing loss in this age group, it is important to implement a hearing screening program in schools in our country.