Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T23:24:53.605Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Paediatric hearing loss: a community-based survey in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2019

R Larsen-Reindorf ,
E Otupiri ,
J E Anomah ,
B M Edwards ,
B Frimpong ,
B Waller ,
M E Prince  and
G J Basura
R Larsen-Reindorf
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Hearing Assessment Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
E Otupiri
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
J E Anomah
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Hearing Assessment Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
B M Edwards
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
B Frimpong
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Hearing Assessment Center, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
B Waller
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
M E Prince
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
G J Basura*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Gregory J Basura, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Otology/Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery, 1500 W Medical Center Drive, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA E-mail: gbasura@umich.edu Fax: +1 (734) 764 0014
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Paediatric hearing loss rates in Ghana are currently unknown.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in peri-urban Kumasi, Ghana; children (aged 3–15 years) were recruited from randomly selected households. Selected children underwent otoscopic examination prior to in-community pure tone screening using the portable ShoeBox audiometer. The LittlEars auditory questionnaire was also administered to caregivers and parents.

Results

Data were collected from 387 children. After conditioning, 362 children were screened using monaural pure tones presented at 25 dB. Twenty-five children could not be conditioned to behavioural audiometric screening. Eight children were referred based on audiometric screening results. Of those, four were identified as having hearing loss. Four children scored less than the maximum mark of 35 on the LittleEars questionnaire. Of those, three had hearing loss as identified through pure tone screening. The predominant physical finding on otoscopy was ear canal cerumen impaction.

Conclusion

Paediatric hearing loss is prevalent in Ghana, and should be treated as a public health problem warranting further evaluation and epidemiology characterisation.

Keywords

Hearing LossPediatricsIncidenceHearing TestsScreeningGhana
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 9 , September 2019 , pp. 796 - 804
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Dr G J Basura takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

Presented orally at the 9th Annual Coalition for Global Hearing Health International Conference, 27–28 October 2018, Cape Town, South Africa.

References

1Olusanya, BO, Ruben, RJ, Parving, A. Reducing the burden of communication disorders in the developing world: an opportunity for the millennium development project. JAMA 2006;296:441–4Google Scholar
2WHO global estimates on prevalence of hearing loss [PowerPoint]. In: https://www.who.int/deafness/estimates/en/ [18 August 2018]Google Scholar
3Stevens, G, Flaxman, S, Brunskill, E, Mascarenhas, M, Mathers, CD, Finucane, M. Global and regional hearing impairment prevalence: an analysis of 42 studies in 29 countries. Eur J Public Health 2013;23:146–52Google Scholar
4WHO global estimates on prevalence of hearing loss. In: https://www.who.int/pbd/deafness/WHO_GE_HL.pdf [20 July 2019]Google Scholar
5Deafness. In: https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/deafness [18 August 2018]Google Scholar
6Perier, O, De Temmerman, P. The child with defective hearing. Medical, educational, sociological and psychological aspects [in French]. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg 1987;41:129–420Google Scholar
7Schenkel, LS, Rothman-Marshall, G, Schlehofer, DA, Towne, TL, Burnash, DL, Priddy, BM. Child maltreatment and trauma exposure among deaf and hard of hearing young adults. Child Abuse Negl 2014;38:1581–9Google Scholar
8Kennedy, CR, McCann, DC, Campbell, MJ, Law, CM, Mullee, M, Petrou, S et al. Language ability after early detection of permanent childhood hearing impairment. N Engl J Med 2006;354:2131–41Google Scholar
9Moller, MP. Early intervention and language development in children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Pediatrics 2000;106:E43Google Scholar
10WHA48.9 Prevention of hearing impairment. In: https://www.who.int/pbd/publications/wha_eb/wha48_9/en/ [22 October 2017]Google Scholar
11American Academy of Pediatrics, Joint Committee on Infant Hearing. Year 2007 position statement: principles and guidelines for early hearing detection and intervention programs. Pediatrics 2007;120:898–921Google Scholar
12Olusanya, BO. Addressing the global neglect of childhood hearing impairment in developing countries. PLoS Med 2007;4:e74Google Scholar
13Acquah, RA. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hearing Loss among Pediatric Patients at a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Accra. Accra: University of Ghana, 2015Google Scholar
14Amedofu, GK, Ocansey, G, Antwi, BB. Characteristics of hearing-impairment among patients in Ghana. Afr J Health Sci 2006;13:110–16Google Scholar
15Nyarko, EA. Prevalence of Hearing Impairment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Accra: University of Ghana, 2013Google Scholar
16Marfoh, A. Prevalence of Hearing Impairment in the Offinso Municipality. Kumasi: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2011Google Scholar
17Osei, AO, Larnyo, PA, Azaglo, A, Sedzro, TM, Torgbenu, EL. Screening for hearing loss among school going children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018;111:7–12Google Scholar
18Offei, YN, Coninx, F. Mode of administration of LittlEARS (MED-EL) auditory questionnaire (LEAQ) as a screening tool in Ghana: are there any differences in final test scores between “self administration” and “interview”? J Educ Pract 2014;5:77–81Google Scholar
19Mulwafu, W, Kuper, H, Ensink, RJ. Prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in Africa. Trop Med Int Health 2016;21:158–65Google Scholar
20Yousuf Hussein, S, Swanepoel, DW, Mahomed-Asmail, F, Biagio de Jager, L. Community-based hearing screening for young children using an mHealth service-delivery model. Glob Health Action 2018;11:1467077Google Scholar
21Westerberg, BD, Skowronski, DM, Stewart, IF, Stewart, L, Bernauer, M, Mudarikwa, L. Prevalence of hearing loss in primary school children in Zimbabwe. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2005;69:517–25Google Scholar
22Bagatto, MP, Moodie, ST, Seewald, RC, Bartlett, DJ, Scollie, SD. A critical review of audiological outcome measures for infants and children. Trends Amplif 2011;15:23–33Google Scholar
23Mahomed-Asmail, F, Swanepoel, DW, Eikelboom, RH. Hearing loss in urban South African school children (grade 1 to 3). Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2016;84:27–31Google Scholar
24Jayawardena, ADL, Kahue, CN, Cummins, SM, Netterville, JL. Expanding the capacity of otolaryngologists in Kenya through mobile technology. OTO Open 2018;2:2473974X18766824Google Scholar
25Thompson, GP, Sladen, DP, Borst, BJH, Still, OL. Accuracy of a tablet audiometer for measuring behavioral hearing thresholds in a clinical population. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2015;153:838–42Google Scholar
26Phanguphangu, MC. Otoscopic examinations reveal high prevalence of outer and middle ear pathologies in paediatrics in Limpopo, South Africa. Int J Audiol 2017;56:215–18Google Scholar
27Adebola, SO, Ayodele, SO, Oyelakin, OA, Babarinde, JA, Adebola, OE. Pre-school hearing screening: profile of children from Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2013;7:1987–91Google Scholar
28Ravi, R, Gunjawate, DR, Yerraguntla, K, Lewis, LE, Driscoll, C, Rajashekhar, B. Follow-up in newborn hearing screening--a systematic review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2016;90:29–36Google Scholar
29Taylor, EJ, Emanuael, DC. Assessment of the efficacy of a hearing screening program for college students. J Am Acad Audiol 2013;24:607–15Google Scholar
30MOH inaugurates Ear Care technical working group. In: https://citinewsroom.com/2018/09/19/moh-inaugurates-ear-care-technical-working-group/ [18 August 2018]Google Scholar
31Waller, B, Larsen-Reindorf, R, Duah, M, Opoku-Buabeng, J, Edwards, BM, Brown, D et al. Otolaryngology outreach to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital: a medical and educational partnership. J Laryngol Otol 2017;131:608–13Google Scholar
32Foundation provides free hearing aid for the deaf. In: http://www.ghananewsagency.org/social/foundation-provides-free-hearing-aid-for-the-deaf-70441 [18 August 2018]Google Scholar
33In Ghana, the deaf live in isolation. In: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/ghana-deaf-live-isolation-180617180707102.html [18 August 2018]Google Scholar