A cross-sectional study on hearing loss using world health organization protocol in Delhi

Suneela Garg, Vipra Mangla, Charu Kohli, M Meghachandra Singh, Shelly Chadha, Neha Dahiya

Indian Journal of Otology 2018 24(3):184-189

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) as per its recent estimates has predicted increasing prevalence of hearing loss globally. Data on magnitude of hearing loss in Delhi, India, are scarce, and the present study aims to highlight the extent of hearing loss problem in population using the standardized WHO protocol. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study using the WHO protocol on "Survey for prevalence and causes of hearing loss" was conducted in selected rural and urban areas of Delhi from January to December 2017 among study participants aged 3 months and above. The sample size of 664 was taken from rural and urban areas of Delhi. Data collection instruments included the WHO structured questionnaire, hearing test, and ear examination using handheld otoacoustic emission (OAE) in children <5 years of age and pure-tone audiometry in persons >5 years. Ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Ethical Committee. Written informed consent/assent was taken from study participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 25). Qualitative data were expressed in percentage and quantitative data were shown as mean + standard deviation (SD). Results: The prevalence of hearing loss was 26.9%–15.6% in rural area (Barwala) and 84.4% in urban areas (0.62% in Balmiki Basti, 15.6% in Delhi Gate, 64.4% in Gokulpuri, and 3.8% in Vikram Nagar). Mean + SD age of study participants was 32.17 + 20.85 years. Mild hearing loss was seen in 66.7%, 54.5%, and 43.5% in 6–9, 10–19, and 20–39 years' age group of participants, respectively. Severe hearing loss was seen in 46.7% and 68.3% of study participants in 40–59 and >60 years' age group, respectively. Severe hearing loss was seen in 55.3% males and 42.8% females, respectively. In children <5 years, OAE was passed in 69.4% male and 30.6% female children. About 14.3% children with OAE referred were males and 85.7% were females. Conclusion: The prevalence of hearing loss using the WHO protocol was 26.9% in Delhi, and severity increased with increasing age and more among males than females.

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