scholarly journals Hearing Impairment Among Children Referred to a Public Audiology Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2333794X1877007
Author(s):  
Francis M. Banda ◽  
Kathleen M. Powis ◽  
Agnes B. Mokoka ◽  
Moalosi Mmapetla ◽  
Katherine D. Westmoreland ◽  
...  

Objective. To describe and quantify hearing impairment among children referred to the audiology clinic in Princess Marina Hospital, a public referral hospital in Botswana. Methods. In a retrospective case series, we reviewed medical records of children aged 10 years and younger whose hearing was assessed between January 2006 and December 2015 at the audiology clinic of Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. Results. Of 622 children, 50% were male, and median age was 6.7 years (interquartile range = 5.0-8.3). Hearing impairment was diagnosed in 32% of clinic attendees, comprising sensorineural (23%), conductive (25%), and mixed (11%) hearing loss, while 41% of children with diagnosed hearing impairment did not have a classification type. Hearing impairment was mild in 22.9%, moderate in 22.4%, severe in 19.4%, profound in 16.9%, and of undocumented severity in 18.4%. Children younger than 5 years were 2.7 times (95% confidence interval = 1.29-5.49; P = .008) more likely to be diagnosed with sensorineural hearing impairment compared with those older than 5 years. By contrast, children older than 5 years were 9.6 times (95% confidence interval = 2.22-41.0; P = .002) more likely to be diagnosed with conductive hearing loss compared with those under 5 years. Conclusion. Hearing impairment was common among children referred to this audiology clinic in Botswana. Of those with hearing impairment, more than a third had moderate or severe deficits, suggesting that referrals for hearing assessments are not occurring early enough. Hearing awareness programs individually tailored to parents, educators, and health care workers are needed. Neonatal and school hearing screening programs would also be beneficial.

Author(s):  
Honnurappa Vijayendra ◽  
Somashekhar Abhilasha ◽  
Vinay Vijayendra ◽  
Nilesh Mahajan

<p class="abstract">In this paper, we highlighted on the various types of isolated congenital middle ear ossicular anomalies we had seen and managed. This is significant as these are rare and go undiagnosed for long period of time. The mainstay of managing these conditions includes proper and timely diagnosis and correction of conducting hearing loss. This was a retrospective case series study done over period of 3 years from July 2016 to June 2019 at a tertiary referral otology centre. The study comprised of 9 patients diagnosed with isolated middle ear anomalies and in total 11 operated ears for the same as two patients underwent bilateral treatment. Each case was handled differently according to the intra operative middle ear findings. We found that in all of our cases the HRCT findings were in correlation with our intra operative findings. All cases had excellent post-operative hearing outcomes. Isolated middle ear deformity even though rare to identity, with recent advancement it is possible to diagnose and treat it on time and hence reduce the disability experienced by the patient. Whatever the type of abnormalities, most of them could be corrected with appropriate ossicular reconstruction by preserving the normal existing anatomy and bypassing the anomalous part.</p><p> </p>


2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1267-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Pollak ◽  
Malgorzata Mueller-Malesinska ◽  
Urszula Lechowicz ◽  
Agata Skorka ◽  
Lech Korniszewski ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 913-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret A. Meredith ◽  
Jay T. Rubinstein ◽  
Kathleen C. Y. Sie ◽  
Susan J. Norton

Background: Children with steeply sloping sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) lack access to critical high-frequency cues despite the use of advanced hearing aid technology. In addition, their auditory-only aided speech perception abilities often meet Food and Drug Administration criteria for cochlear implantation. Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe hearing preservation and speech perception outcomes in a group of young children with steeply sloping SNHL who received a cochlear implant (CI). Research Design: Retrospective case series. Study Sample: Eight children with steeply sloping postlingual progressive SNHL who received a unilateral traditional CI at Seattle Children’s Hospital between 2009 and 2013 and had follow-up data available up to 24 mo postimplant were included. Data Collection and Analysis: A retrospective chart review was completed. Medical records were reviewed for demographic information, preoperative and postoperative behavioral hearing thresholds, and speech perception scores. Paired t tests were used to analyze speech perception data. Hearing preservation results are reported. Results: Rapid improvement of speech perception scores was observed within the first month postimplant for all participants. Mean monosyllabic word scores were 76% and mean phoneme scores were 86.7% at 1-mo postactivation compared to mean preimplant scores of 19.5% and 31.0%, respectively. Hearing preservation was observed in five participants out to 24-mo postactivation. Two participants lost hearing in both the implanted and unimplanted ear, and received a sequential bilateral CI in the other ear after progression of the hearing loss. One participant had a total loss of hearing in only the implanted ear. Results reported in this article are from the ear implanted first. Bilateral outcomes are not reported. Conclusions: CIs provided benefit for children with steeply sloping bilateral hearing loss for whom hearing aids did not provide adequate auditory access. In our cohort, significant improvements in speech understanding occurred rapidly postactivation. Preservation of residual hearing in children with a traditional CI electrode is possible.


2001 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Tagwireyi ◽  
D E Ball

The Araceae family of plants is the major cause of symptomatic plant ingestions in some developed countries (Dieffenbachia and Philodendron) and in Zimbabwe (Elephant's Ear), especially in children. A retrospective case series was carried out to evaluate the management of poisoning due to Elephant's Ear at the largest referral hospital in Zimbabwe for the period January 1995-December 1999. The study revealed inappropriate use of antibiotics, atropine, and antihistamines in the treatment of Elephant's Ear poisoning. This article also reviews the management of poisoning due to the Araceae family of plants as exemplified by Elephant's Ear. There is a need to educate health care workers on the clinical management of Elephant's Ear poisoning especially in developing countries where there are limited resources.


1980 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira M. Ventry

This paper reviews the empirical evidence implicating conductive hearing impairment as a causal agent in learning disability, language dysfunction, and central auditory problems. From this review one can conclude that there are few, if any, valid data linking conductive hearing impairment to any of these problems. Suggestions for improving research in this area conclude the article.


1975 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey A. Taub

Recent reports concerning the use of acupuncture as a possible treatment for sensorineural hearing impairment were reviewed and evaluated. It was concluded that acupuncture has no effect upon the hearing ability of individuals with sensorineural losses. Further, it was suggested that subjective feelings of improvement represent a placebo effect resulting from the application of a treatment that patients believe might work and not from acupuncture itself.


1974 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur J. Dahle ◽  
Faye P. McCollister ◽  
Barbara A. Hamner ◽  
David W. Reynolds ◽  
Sergio Stagno

The hearing sensitivity of children with subclinical congenital cytomegalovirus infection was evaluated and compared with that of a group of matched control subjects. Nine of the 18 infected subjects had some hearing loss, ranging from slight high-frequency impairments to a severe-to-profound unilateral loss. The findings indicate that subclinical congenital cytomegalovirus must be considered a potential etiological factor in sensorineural hearing impairment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-546
Author(s):  
Enrico Muzzi ◽  
Valeria Gambacorta ◽  
Ruggero Lapenna ◽  
Giulia Pizzamiglio ◽  
Sara Ghiselli ◽  
...  

A new non-invasive adhesive bone conduction hearing device (ABCD) has been proposed as an alternative solution for reversible bilateral conductive hearing loss in recurrent or long-lasting forms of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children that cannot undergo surgical treatment. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of ABCD in children with OME. Twelve normal-hearing Italian-speaking volunteers, in whom a conductive hearing loss was simulated, participated in the study. The free-field average hearing threshold was determined and, to evaluate binaural hearing skills, loudness summation and the squelch effect were assessed. Five conditions were tested: (1) unaided without earplugs, (2) unaided with bilateral earplugs, (3) aided right ear with bilateral earplugs, (4) aided left ear with bilateral earplugs, and (5) bilateral aid with bilateral earplugs. Post-hoc analysis showed a significant statistical difference between plugged, unplugged, and each aided condition. The main results were a better loudness summation and a substantial improvement of the squelch effect in the bilaterally aided. Our results suggest that ABCD is a valid treatment for patients with conductive hearing loss that cannot undergo bone conduction implant surgery. It is also important to consider bilateral aids in order to deal with situations in which binaural hearing is fundamental.


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