causes of deafness and hearing impairment in cohorts at the Ida Rieu school, Karachi

ABSTRACT

This is a case control cohort study of comparable age, gender, socioeconomic and other multidirectional variables. The study was carried out in 334 children during the period between March and August 97, at the Ida Rieu Ear Institute in Karachi. The methodology comprised of collecting data based on a questionnaire filled by the parents. Clinical examination involved routine physical and thorough ENT examination. All subjects were evaluated through pure tone audiometry. The findings are comparable to the results of a previous study conducted in this school during the year 1991-93. In this study majority of children [76.64%] had profound hearing loss. Consanguinity, communicable diseases and ototoxicity seem to be the dominating factors