Cost-effectiveness of audiometric screening of first-year preparatory pupils in Dhofar region, Oman

ABSTRACT

Audiometric screening was conducted in Dhofar region to study the magnitude of ear problems and cost-effectiveness of screening first-year preparatory-school children in Oman. None of the 1894 pupils had otitis media with effusion or sensory neuronal hearing loss. Six children [0.32%] had impacted wax, 4 [0.21%] chronic suppurative otitis media and 2 [0.11%] dry perforation of eardrum. In all, 14 children [0.74%] with suspected hearing impairment were referred to a specialist but only 2 attended. Physicians and nurses spent 8-10 minutes for ear examination per child for a yield of less than 1%. The screening expenditure was US$ 5 per pupil. As the prevalence of serious ear conditions was low, we conclude that exp and ing the audiometric screening of schoolchildren to first-year preparatory pupils is not cost-effective