Availability of resources for paediatric hearing care in a South African province.

BACKGROUND:  Unavailability of healthcare resources can lead to poor patient outcomes. The latter is true for infants with hearing loss and require early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI). AIM:  To determine the availability and distribution of resources for EHDI in state hospitals in the Eastern Cape (EC) province, South Africa. SETTING:  Sixteen state hospitals (nine district, four regional and three tertiary hospitals). METHODS:  Descriptive cross-sectional survey completed between July 2022 and October 2022. RESULTS:  Thirteen hospitals had audiologists (n = 4) or speech therapists and audiologists (n = 9). Specific to equipment, 10 hospitals had a screening otoacoustic emissions or automated auditory brainstem response, 8 hospitals had diagnostic middle ear analysers and only 3 hospitals had diagnostic auditory brainstem response and/or auditory steady state response. Twelve hospitals did not have visual response audiometry (VRA) and 94% had no hearing aid verification systems. Budget allocations were uneven, with only 10 hospitals, i.e., 4 districts, all regional and 2 tertiary hospitals being allocated varying amounts. Subsequently, only 50% provided newborn hearing screening, 56% provided diagnostic evaluations and 14 hospitals fitted hearing aids. CONCLUSION:  Results revealed a limited and uneven distribution of resources, which negatively impacted the provision of EHDI. Even distribution of healthcare resources and further research aimed at strengthening hearing health services is recommended as these could potentially improve equitable access to EHDI and the overall quality of healthcare provided.Contribution: This study highlights the need for even distribution of resources and strengthening of health systems, especially in the dawn of the National Health Insurance.

Availability of resources for paediatric hearing care in a South African province

Background: Unavailability of healthcare resources can lead to poor patient outcomes. The latter is true for infants with hearing loss and require early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI). Aim: To determine the availability and distribution of resources for EHDI in state hospitals in the Eastern Cape (EC) province, South Africa. Setting: Sixteen state hospitals (nine district, four regional and three tertiary hospitals). Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional survey completed between July 2022 and October 2022. Results: Thirteen hospitals had audiologists (n = 4) or speech therapists and audiologists (n = 9). Specific to equipment, 10 hospitals had a screening otoacoustic emissions or automated auditory brainstem response, 8 hospitals had diagnostic middle ear analysers and only 3 hospitals had diagnostic auditory brainstem response and/or auditory steady state response. Twelve hospitals did not have visual response audiometry (VRA) and 94% had no hearing aid verification systems. Budget allocations were uneven, with only 10 hospitals, i.e., 4 districts, all regional and 2 tertiary hospitals being allocated varying amounts. Subsequently, only 50% provided newborn hearing screening, 56% provided diagnostic evaluations and 14 hospitals fitted hearing aids. Conclusion: Results revealed a limited and uneven distribution of resources, which negatively impacted the provision of EHDI. Even distribution of healthcare resources and further research aimed at strengthening hearing health services is recommended as these could potentially improve equitable access to EHDI and the overall quality of healthcare provided. Contribution: This study highlights the need for even distribution of resources and strengthening of health systems, especially in the dawn of the National Health Insurance.

Clinical utility of smartphone-based audiometry for early hearing loss detection in HIV-positive children: A feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) often manifests with hearing loss (HL). Given the impact of HL, early detection is critical to prevent its associated effects. Yet, the majority of children living with HIV/AIDS (CLWHA) cannot access hearing healthcare services because of the scarcity of audiologists and expensive costs of purchasing screening equipment. Alternative solutions for early detection of HL are therefore necessary. AIM: The overall aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of using self-administered smartphone-based audiometry for early HL detection amongst CLWHA. SETTING: This study was conducted at the paediatrics department of a state hospital in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. METHODS: This was a feasibility study conducted amongst twenty-seven (27) CLWHA who were in the age group of 6-12 years. The participants self-administered hearing screening tests using a smartphone-based audiometric test. The primary end-points of this study were to determine the sensitivity, specificity and test-retest reliability of self-administered hearing screening. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for self-administered screening were 82% and 94%, respectively, with positive and negative predictive values of 90% and 88%, respectively. Moreover, a strong positive test-retest reliability (r = 0.97) was obtained when participants self-administered the screening test. CONCLUSION: Six- to 12-year-old CLWHA were able to accurately self-administer hearing screening tests using smartphone-based audiometry. These findings show that self-administered smartphone audiometry can be used for serial hearing monitoring in at-risk paediatric patients.

Practice patterns of South African audiologists in cerumen management: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the training, self-reported competence and practice patterns of South African audiologists (SAAs) regarding cerumen management (CM). DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional survey. An online questionnaire was completed by SAA between July and September 2016. The questionnaire addressed sections on educational training, experience and practice patterns of SAAs regarding CM. STUDY SAMPLE: Three hundred and fifty-six SAAs responded to an email invitation sent to 382 actively-practicing audiologists. RESULTS: Majority of the participants (85%) were employed for less than 10 years. Forty-nine percent received less than 10 hours of theoretical training while 57% received less than 10 hours of clinical education. A total of 96% of the participants indicated they felt competent to perform CM, with 96% preferring manual, ear syringing, or a combination of the two. Handwashing pre- and post-procedure was the preferred method of infection prevention and control by 87% of the participants with 66% of these indicating they only wore gloves. Majority (85%) of the participants indicated that they always explained the possible complications of CM to their patients. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study indicate that South African audiologists feel that they are adequately trained and competent to perform CM.

Otoscopic examinations reveal high prevalence of outer and middle ear pathologies in paediatrics in Limpopo, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of outer and middle ear pathologies in paediatrics in Limpopo, South Africa. DESIGN: Cross-sectional retrospective review of otoscopy results obtained during a school health screening campaign conducted between March and June 2015. Descriptive statistics through percentages and frequency tables were used to analyse the data. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between age, gender and pathologies observed. STUDY SAMPLE: Medical folders of 1089 pupils. RESULTS: Forty-nine percent had normal otoscopy results. A significant 36% (n = 392) had impacted cerumen. Furthermore, 45% of those with impacted cerumen were bilaterally impacted. Additionally, 4% presented with foreign bodies and a further 8% had otitis externa and otitis media. The remaining 3% had tympanic membrane perforations. The odds of developing outer and middle ear pathologies were higher in pupils below 6 years of age (p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: This study highlights a high prevalence of outer and middle ear pathologies in paediatrics in Limpopo and therefore recommends comprehensive baseline and periodic screenings; to identify children with outer and middle ear pathologies and need further management, and consequently prevent the complications of these pathologies. Additionally, this report highlights a rising need for large-scale research to provide comprehensive analysis of these pathologies.