DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i02.022

Pages: 638-645

Hearing impairment substantially affects child’s ability to normally acquire the spoken language. It creates problems for the child in terms of communication, achievement in school as well as social and emotional growth. The aim of this research is to study the prevalence of hearing disorders and its causes among various school students of Jaipur, Rajasthan. In this cross-sectional and descriptive analytical study, 1500 students from various schools of age 6 – 12 years were screened for complete E.N.T. examination and hearing loss by pure tone audiometry and tympanometry. Of the 1500 school children, 821 children were found to have various ENT related problems. Hearing assessment revealed a hearing loss on one or both sides in 249 cases (16.60%), out of which 241cases (96.79%) were of conductive hearing loss. Various ear pathologies were detected in these children, out of which Wax was the most common, followed by chronic suppurative otitis media "Tubotympanic type", otitis media with effusion and otomycosis respectively. Regular E.N.T. check up and primary ear care education to teachers, students and guardians can prevent these vulnerable children from developing hearing impairment.