Hearing loss in school-aged children.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is a common disability affecting 5% of the world's population. A lack of opportune diagnosis affects both the individual and society. In order to develop public health policies in the field of hearing health, countries must have information about epidemiology. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: In this review, we describe the information available about prevalence and incidence of hearing loss in school-aged children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of the literature in PubMed. RESULTS: Reported prevalence of hearing loss in school-aged children varied between 0.2% and 7.8%. Several factors could explain the discrepancy in numbers such as definition of hearing loss, cause, and the inclusion of high-frequency hearing loss. The rate of delayed-onset hearing loss at the age of six years old varied between 0.6 and 0.8 per 1000. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of hearing loss in school-aged children varied between 0.2% and 7.8%, and the rate of delayed-onset hearing loss at the age of six years old varied between 0.6 and 0.8 per 1000.

Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment and Its Association With Hearing Loss Among Adults Over 50 Years of Age: Results From a Population-Based Survey in Santiago, Chile.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and explore its association with hearing loss and other sociodemographic and clinical risk factors, using an objective measurement of hearing levels, in adults over 50 years of age. METHOD: A population-based survey was completed in Santiago, Chile between December 2019 and March 2020. Participants were screened for cognitive impairment using the Short Chilean Mini-Mental State Examination and hearing levels were assessed with tonal audiometry (hearTest). Data on demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics were collected. RESULTS: A total of 538 persons completed the assessment. The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the 50+ population was 9.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] [5.8, 14.7]). Cognitive impairment was significantly higher in individuals with any level of hearing loss (odds ratio [OR] = 2.19, 95% CI [1.00, 4.80], adjusted for age, sex, education, socioeconomic position [SEP], and head trauma). Subjects with hearing loss and who reported any use of hearing aids (16% of the sample) had a lower risk of cognitive impairment (OR of nonusers 3.64, 95% CI [1.00, 13.28], adjusted for age, sex, education, SEP, and head trauma). CONCLUSION: Strategies for addressing cognitive impairment should further explore the integration of early diagnosis of hearing loss and the regular use of hearing aids.

Prevalence, risk factors and causes of hearing loss among adults 50 years and older in Santiago, Chile: results from a rapid assessment of hearing loss survey.

OBJECTIVE: Among a representative sample of adults aged 50 years and older too (i) determine the prevalence of hearing loss, (ii) evaluate probable causes and risk factors of hearing loss, and (iii) assess the association between hearing loss measured by audiometry and self-report. DESIGN: A population-based survey of adults aged 50 and older in Santiago, Chile using the Rapid Assessment of Hearing Loss (RAHL) survey. STUDY SAMPLE: 538 participants completed a questionnaire, which included questions on socio-demographic and health characteristics and self-reported hearing loss. Hearing and possible cause of hearing loss was assessed using pure tone audiometry (0.5-4.0 kHz), tympanometry, and otoscopy. RESULTS: The prevalence of any level of hearing loss in adults aged 50 years and older was 41% (95% CI 33.2, 49.2). In terms of aetiologies, 89.3% of ears with mild or worse hearing loss were classified as sensorineural. Otoscopy was abnormal in 10.7% of subjects with impacted earwax being the most common finding (4.4%) followed by chronic otitis media (3.5%). Hearing aid usage was 16.6%. Older age, lower socioeconomic position, lack of education, and solvent exposure were significantly associated with hearing loss. CONCLUSION: Hearing loss among individuals aged over 50 years was common in Santiago, Chile.

Exploring the Use of Washington Group Questions to Identify People with Clinical Impairments Who Need Services including Assistive Products: Results from Five Population-Based Surveys.

This study analyses the use of the self-reported Washington Group (WG) question sets as a first stage screening to identify people with clinical impairments, service and assistive product (AP) referral needs using different cut-off levels in four functional domains (vision, hearing, mobility and cognition). Secondary data analysis was undertaken using population-based survey data from five countries, including one national survey (The Gambia) and four regional/district surveys (Cameroon, Chile, India and Turkey). In total 19,951 participants were sampled (range 538-9188 in individual studies). The WG question sets on functioning were completed for all participants alongside clinical impairment assessments/questionnaires. Using the WG "some/worse difficulty" cut-off identified people with mild/worse impairments with variable sensitivity (44-79%) and specificity (73-92%) in three of the domains. At least 64% and 60% of people with mild/worse impairments who required referral for surgical/medical and rehabilitation/AP services, respectively, self-reported "some/worse difficulty", and much fewer reported "a lot/worse difficulty." For moderate/worse impairment, both screening cut-offs improved identification of service/AP need, but a smaller proportion of people with need were identified. In conclusion, WG questions could be used as a first-stage screening option to identify people with impairment and referral needs, but only with moderate sensitivity and specificity.

Hipoacusia súbita: experiencia de un año / Sudden hearing loss: a one-year experience

Introducción: La hipoacusia súbita es un cuadro clínico que presenta controversias tanto en su etiología, como en su tratamiento. Existen escasos estudios en la literatura nacional sobre este tema. Objetivo: Evaluar la incidencia del cuadro de hipoacusia súbita en un año, en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, analizar características epidemiológicas, clínicas, y del tratamiento. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo realizado en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, revisando fichas clínicas entre Diciembre del año 2004 hasta Noviembre de 2005, con diagnóstico de hipoacusia súbita. Resultados: Se realizó el estudio con 43 pacientes con diagnóstico de hipoacusia súbita. La mayoría recibió tratamiento corticoidal. El 28% de los pacientes mejoraron, el 18,7% tuvo una recuperación parcial, 9,3% recuperación total, no presentaron mejoría el 72%. Se encontró asociación entre menor edad y mejoría en forma casi significativa. Se encontró una asociación entre mejoría y compromiso del oído derecho en forma significativa. Conclusión: La mayoría de los hallazgos son comparables con la literatura nacional e internacional, la asociación mejoría v/s oído derecho debe ser validada por nuevos estudios.

Introduction. Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a medical condition somewhat controversial in its etiology and treatment. There are few reports of SHL in the local literature. Aim. Jo assess the incidence of SHL at the University of Chile Hospital during a year-long period, analyzing the epidemiological, clinical and treatment characteristics. Material and Method. Restrospective review of SHL clinical data between December 2004 and November 2005. Results. Forty three patients diagnosed with SHL were included. Most were treated with corticoids. In 28% of cases, there was an improvement of the condition. Of these, in 18.7% there was a partial improvement, and in 9.3% a complete recovery. There was no improvement in 72% of the cases. The relation between age and recovery was almost significant. A significant relation between improvement and right ear involvement was found. Conclusion. Most of our findings are similar to those reported in the literature; the association between recovery an right ear involvement should be validated by future studies.

[Factors associated with abstinence in a smoking cessation program]. / Factores determinantes en el éxito de un tratamiento antitabaco.

BACKGROUND: Smoking cessation programs have an efficacy of approximately 30%. Different factors related to the patients may influence this figure. AIM: To identify determinant factors for smoking cessation after one year of treatment and to determine if bupropion and nicotine substitutes are effective in smoking cessation treatments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Follow up of 68 patients that attended a smokers clinic at a General Hospital. The patients filled up a questionnaire which included demographic, morbid and smoking habits data. They were subjected to a psychiatric interview to determine their treatment. One year later, patients were contacted by telephone and were asked if they remained without smoking. RESULTS: After one year, 41% of patients responded that they were abstinent. On univariate analysis, male gender appeared as a protective factor associated to abstinence. On multivariate analysis, the use of bupropion appeared as a protective factor. A high score on the automatic item of the smoking motivation questionnaire appeared as a risk factor. The presence of respiratory diseases and the male gender were borderline significant protective factors. Nicotine substitutes were not associated with better abstinence rates. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of smokers, the use of bupropion was associated with better abstinence rates and a high motivation to smoke appeared as a risk factor to continue smoking.

Factores determinantes en el éxito de un tratamiento antitabaco / Factors associated with abstinence in a smoking cessation program

Smoking cessation programs have an efficacy of approximately 30 percent. Different factors related to the patients may influence this figure. Aim To identify determinant factors for smoking cessation after one year of treatment and to determine if bupropion and nicotine substitutes are effective in smoking cessation treatments. Material and methods: Follow up of 68 patients that attended a smokers clinic at a General Hospital. The patients filled up a questionnaire which included demographic, morbid and smoking habits data. They were subjected to a psychiatric interview to determine their treatment. One year later, patients were contacted by telephone and were asked if they remained without smoking. Results: After one year, 41 percent of patients responded that they were abstinent. On univariate analysis, male gender appeared as a protective factor associated to abstinence. On multivariate analysis, the use of bupropion appeared as a protective factor. A high score on the automatic item of the smoking motivation questionnaire appeared as a risk factor. The presence of respiratory diseases and the male gender were borderline significant protective factors. Nicotine substitutes were not associated with better abstinence rates. Conclusions: In this sample of smokers, the use of bupropion was associated with better abstinence rates and a high motivation to smoke appeared as a risk factor to continue smoking.