[Analysis of auditory function on normal growth children in city and rural areas].
OBJECTIVE
To study the auditory function of Chinese normal growth children, and to get a first hand data for protecting children's hearing.


METHODS
The normal growth children (6 to 12 years old) in Qinling mountain area, pasturing area around Qinghai Lake and Nanjing city were included in the study, and their whole frequency auditory thresholds were examined on the spot. The auditory thresholds were analyzed.


RESULTS
There was significant difference between the boys' and girls' auditory thresholds among nearly the whole frequency in Qinling mountain. And there was significant difference between the boys' and girls' auditory thresholds among high frequency and super high frequency in pasturing area around Qinghai Lake, while the girls' auditory function was better than the boys'. In contrast, in Nanjing city no difference was found between the boys' and girls' auditory thresholds. The auditory thresholds in high frequency and super high frequency of the boys in Nanjing city were lower than those of the boys in mountain area and plateau pasturing area, while there was no difference between the girls except for low frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
Worse auditory function was found in Chinese rural areas, especially among the boys. According to the local residents' living condition, the children in remote area nearly had no chance to receive the modern industrial noise and other strong noise. So the firecrackers' noise perhaps made this situation. And the education to avoid the firecrackers' noise must be put into practice in Chinese rural area since childhood.
Gao
Xia
X
Department of Otolaryngology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing ,210008, China. xiagaogao@hotmail.com
Gerald
Fleischer
F
Ding
Xiaoqiong
X
Zhang
Qian
Q
D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population