title: The extent of hearing impairment amongst Australian Indigenous prisoners in Victoria, and implications for the correctional system.
abstract: The hearing status of 109 Indigenous prisoners was investigated at five prison locations in Victoria, using audiological methods and face-to-face interview. The study found predominantly mild, sensorineural hearing loss. The rate of conductive hearing impairment was consistent with an age-matched general adult population (UK). All eardrums were intact, and 89% of middle-ears were normally air filled. Results showed 12% of prisoners had a hearing loss (average. 0.5, 1, 2, & 4 kHz >or=25 dB) in at least one ear, compared with 5% in an age-matched Australian adult population. More than a third (36%) had high-frequency, sensorineural hearing impairment (4 or 6 kHz >or=25 dB), in one or both ears. Over half of the inmates (58%) reported hearing problems sometimes, and 4% reported a lot of hearing trouble. The majority of prisoners (92%) reported exposures to loud noise, and tinnitus was reported by 72% of prisoners. For hearing-impaired individuals within the correctional system, the reduced ability to communicate with ease may impact detrimentally on daily interactions, and may impede progress through rehabilitation programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. squinn@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rance
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D038781:Otoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult