title: The prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in Oman: a community-based cross-sectional study.
abstract: A community-based nationwide survey for hearing loss was conducted in Oman in 1996-97. Audiometric tests and ear examinations were conducted for 12,400 persons in phase I. For children aged less than 4 years, subjective screening tests were used. In phase II, otologists examined the hearing-impaired subjects to determine the cause. The prevalence of bilateral hearing impairment was 55/1000 (95% CI 51.08-59.47). Gender difference was not significant. The rates were 325/1000 and 17/1000, respectively, in the > or = 60-year and < 10-year age groups. Presbyacusis and middle ear diseases, respectively, were the causes of 33% and 20% of bilateral hearing impairment. In 30% of the bilateral hearing-impaired subjects, the cause could not be determined. The prevalence of bilateral disabling hearing loss was 21/1000 (95% CI 18.07-23.29). Noise-induced trauma was responsible for only 1.4% of cases of disabling hearing loss. Establishing primary ear care, introducing hearing screening for neonates and schoolchildren, promoting safe preventive practices for ear care, strengthening secondary-level ear care services and introducing comprehensive rehabilitative initiatives for the hearing-disabled are recommended to reduce the hearing loss rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Communication disorders, Al Nahdha Hospital, Muscat, Oman. nadiamaz@omantel.net.om
authors.forename: Mazin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Khabori
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khandekar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003939:Diagnostic Techniques, Otological; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014944:World Health Organization