Conductive and Mixed Hearing Losses: A Comparison between Summer and Autumn

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Conductive hearing loss is common among children and adults. This study aims at comparing the results of conductive hearing loss in summer and autumn. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Puretone audiometry and tympanometry tests were done for all patients who referred to the Iranian-based audiology center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz. Data on the patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss were analyzed. The impacts of season, age, and etiology of the disease were analyzed on the patients who visited the audiology clinic due to the conductive hearing loss in summer and autumn. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty nine patients in summer and 123 patients in autumn had conductive or mixed hearing loss. Their age ranged from four to 82 years, with the average age of 35. The percentage of the patients, with acute otitis media and chronic otitis media (COM), who visited this clinic, was significantly higher than those with middle ear problems. COM and mastoid surgeries rate was higher in summer than autumn among adults. CONCLUSIONS: There is no relationship between season and middle ear diseases between children and juveniles, but COM and mastoid problems are more common in summer among adults visiting this clinic. Most of the patients had mild conductive hearing loss and bilateral middle ear impairments.

[Standardization of data elements of audiology records: a suitable model for Iran]

Providing high quality health care is not possible without information related to the past and current condition of the patient. Records show which services, where, when and by whom was delivered. Documentation is referred to the process of precisely recording the information regarding patient care and treatment. The purpose of this study is to determine the essential data set required in audiology record keeping and designing a model for Iran. In an applied research of a descriptive-comparative type which was carried out in 2010, data elements of audiology records of domestic and foreign patient notes were used to compile a check list which was subjected to debate by Iranian audiologists in Delphi method. 110 audiologists and 17 faculty members responded to the opinion poll. From 51 elements which were subjected to discussion, 37 elements by more than 75 percent of the participants, nine elements by 50 to 75 percent of the participants and five elements by less than 50 percent of the participants, were agreed upon. The only element to be considered more important by faculty members than audiologists was "Gender" [p=0.018]. Seventy percent of the participants valued the effectiveness of information in patient records very high. The minimum data set for audiology records must include demographic information, past medical history, patient assessment and treatment plan. With reference to record design principles this information was used to develop a model for patient audiology record which also included the necessary instructions for completing it