Publication related to RSI or an RSI staff member
Hearing loss prevalence and hearing health among school-aged children in the Canadian Arctic.
OBJECTIVE: Hearing loss is an important health concern in Canada’s Arctic. The objective of this research was to provide information on the prevalence of childhood hearing loss in Nunavut. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study involved comprehensive audiologic assessments of school-aged children in six communities to determine overall and community-specific prevalence of hearing loss. Data were collected about hearing aid use and factors affecting use through a parent questionnaire. STUDY SAMPLE: Assessments were completed for 644 children in kindergarten to grade 6. RESULTS: 124 (19.3%) children had hearing loss of >/= 30 dB HL at one or more frequencies in at least one ear (93.5% conductive loss). Applying a Canadian prevalence study definition, 148 (23.5%) children had hearing loss. Tympanic membrane perforations were present in 36.8% (n = 28) of children with unilateral and 45.8% (n = 22) with bilateral loss. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hearing loss in Canada’s North was almost three times that reported for non-indigenous children. One in five school-aged children was found to have hearing loss that is likely to affect classroom learning and social/emotional development. A hearing health strategy tailored to this population is critically needed.
Authors
- Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth M, Fitzpatrick EM, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.; Child Hearing Lab, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- McCurdy, Lynne, McCurdy L, Wellington Hearing Care, Guelph, ON, Canada.; Better Hearing Education for Northern Youth, Guelph, ON, Canada.
- Whittingham, JoAnne, Whittingham J, Child Hearing Lab, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Rourke, Ryan, Rourke R, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Nassrallah, Flora, Nassrallah F, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.; Child Hearing Lab, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Grandpierre, Viviane, Grandpierre V, Department of Surgery and Urology, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Momoli, Franco, Momoli F, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Bijelic, Vid, Bijelic V, Clinical Research Unit, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
OBJECTIVE: Hearing loss is an important health concern in Canada's Arctic. The objective of this research was to provide information on the prevalence of childhood hearing loss in Nunavut. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study involved comprehensive audiologic assessments of school-aged children in six communities to determine overall and community-specific prevalence of hearing loss. Data were collected about hearing aid use and factors affecting use through a parent questionnaire. STUDY SAMPLE: Assessments were completed for 644 children in kindergarten to grade 6. RESULTS: 124 (19.3%) children had hearing loss of >/= 30 dB HL at one or more frequencies in at least one ear (93.5% conductive loss). Applying a Canadian prevalence study definition, 148 (23.5%) children had hearing loss. Tympanic membrane perforations were present in 36.8% (n = 28) of children with unilateral and 45.8% (n = 22) with bilateral loss. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hearing loss in Canada's North was almost three times that reported for non-indigenous children. One in five school-aged children was found to have hearing loss that is likely to affect classroom learning and social/emotional development. A hearing health strategy tailored to this population is critically needed.
