Hearing Screening among First-Grade Children in Rural Areas and Small Towns in Małopolskie Voivodeship, Poland

School-based hearing screening of first-grade students in Saudi Arabia: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

 Hearing loss in children is a global concern. Early identification and intervention are critical for minimising the adverse effects of hearing loss. Despite the implementation of hearing screening programmes in Saudi Arabia, more research is needed on the audiological profiles of first-grade students.

OBJECTIVES

 This study aimed to characterize the audiological profile of first-grade students in Saudi Arabia and to raise awareness among parents, schools, and decision-makers about the need for hearing screening programs and the implementation of an effective monitoring and management system in the country.

METHOD

 This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed the audiological profile of 308 first-grade students in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, using pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and tympanometry. Additionally, two questionnaire-based assessments, one for parents and one for the home teacher, were developed to predict students who failed PTA.

RESULTS

 Among the students screened, 26.3% failed PTA. Tympanometry identified abnormal middle ear function in 30.5% of the students. The discrimination capacity of both questionnaires in identifying students who failed PTA screening was poor.

CONCLUSION

 A 26.3% prevalence rate of PTA screening failure, and a 30.5% of middle ear pathologies were noted. Both parent and teacher questionnaires were ineffective tools for identifying hearing loss among first-grade children who failed PTA screening.Contribution: This pilot study recommends that primary schools incorporate hearing screening as a regular practice of their preventative healthcare system. The study emphasises the importance of establishing international standards for school-based hearing screening to enhance its efficacy and develop more effective hearing screening questionnaires.

The Importance of Hearing Screening and Central Auditory Processing in School-Aged Children

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed hearing impairment or central auditory processing disorders in children from I and VIII grades of primary schools in Warsaw.

METHODS

The participants in the study were 15,659 pupils from classes I and VIII attending primary schools in Warsaw. As part of the study, the hearing threshold for air conduction at frequencies of 0.5-8 kHz was determined, and a test assessing central auditory processing was performed: FPT (Frequency Pattern Test), DDT (Dichotic Digit Test), the Auditory Behaviour Scale (SAB), and an interview questionnaire developed for the program.

RESULTS

Abnormal test results were found in 1946 children, of which abnormal hearing screening test results were found in 678 children tested, while reduced central auditory processing results were found in 1268 children.

CONCLUSIONS

The program implemented draws attention to the fact that tests of central auditory processing are included in the testing protocol. As has been shown, peripheral hearing testing alone is not sufficient to exclude abnormalities concerning the sense of hearing.

Feasibility of implementing a school entry hearing screening programme in the South-East District, Botswana

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of implementing a school entry hearing screening programme in the South-East District, Botswana.

DESIGN

A feasibility study design was used. Trained screeners conducted smartphone-based pure tone audiometry screening at 25 dB HL, at 1, 2, and 4 kHz using calibrated headphones. Learners with "refer" results after an immediate rescreen were referred and scheduled for diagnostic hearing assessment at the local hospital. Attendance at diagnostic appointments was encouraged through multiple contacts with the families.

STUDY SAMPLE

The study participants were 403 Grade 1 learners from eight public primary schools.

RESULTS

The overall referral rate for diagnostic hearing assessment was 4.7%, with a referral uptake rate of 90%. The sensitivity and specificity of the hearing screening protocol were 93.3% and 86.4%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 82.4% and 95%, respectively. The average cost per learner screened was US$ 10.75.

CONCLUSIONS

School entry hearing screening programmes can be successfully implemented in the South-East District, Botswana. Lessons learnt from this study can potentially guide phased implementation of school hearing screening programmes in other districts.

Hearing thresholds elevation and potential association with emotional problems among 1,914 children in Beijing, China

Objectives

School-aged children may experience hearing loss and emotional problems. Previous studies have shown a bidirectional relationship between hearing loss and emotional problems in the elderly population, and we aimed to analyze the association between hearing thresholds and emotional problems in school-aged children.

Methods

Based on the Beijing Child Growth and Health Cohort (PROC) study, the hearing screenings were conducted in November 2019 using pure tone audiometry. A total of 1,877 parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess children's emotional and behavioral status. We used generalized linear regression analysis to assess the potential association of emotional problems with hearing thresholds, based on multiple imputed datasets with a sample size of 1,914.

Results

The overall pass rate of hearing screening was 91.5%. The abnormal rate of SDQ total difficulties was 55.8%. Emotional symptoms were positively associated with left ear average hearing thresholds (β = 0.24, 95%CI: 0.08-0.40), and right ear average hearing thresholds (β = 0.18, 95%CI: 0.04-0.32). Conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer problems, and prosocial behaviors had no association with the pass rate of the hearing screening. Regarding emotional symptoms, boys with many fears and who are easily scared coincided with increased right ear average hearing thresholds (β = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.01-1.33). Girls having many worries, frequently feeling unhappy and downhearted were positively associated with left and right ear average hearing thresholds, respectively (β = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.20-1.73; β = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.07-1.37).

Conclusions

The co-occurrence of hearing problems and emotional problems of children aged 6-8 in Beijing attracts attention. It is important to address undiscovered hearing loss and emotional problems from the perspective of comorbidity driving factors.

Effectiveness of Surgical Approach of Insertion Ventilation Tubes (Tympanostomy) and Adenoidectomy in Comparison with Non-Surgical Approach (Watchful Waiting Approach) in Children at the Age between 1 and 6 and Who Suffer from Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) in 12-Month Period of Observation-The Retrospective Analysis

(1) Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is one of the most common diseases in childhood. The objective was to assess clinically the effectiveness of the surgical approach (tube insertion with adenoidectomy) in comparison with the non-surgical approach (watchful waiting) during a 12-month observation period. (2) Methods: This study was retrospective and obtained approval from the bioethics committee. The criteria of inclusion in the first group (surgical approach) were: (1) a diagnosis of chronic otitis media with effusion in children aged between 1 and 6 years; (2) their medical history showed that they had undergone adenoidectomy and tympanostomy with the insertion of ventilation tubes (VTs). The criteria for inclusion in the second group (non-surgery) were similar to the first group except that their medical history showed they had not undergone adenoidectomy or tympanostomy with the insertion of VTs. There were 422 children included in the surgical group and 50 children in the non-surgical group, and the period of observation was 12 months. (3) Results: For the entire surgical group, the number of healthy days ranged from 20 to 365, with a mean of 328.0 days (SD = 91.4).In the non-surgical group, the number of healthy days ranged from 13 to 365, with a mean of 169.2 days (SD = 127.3). The difference in the number of healthy days was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The certainty of treatment in the first group was higher than in the second group, and the number of days without recurrence was significantly higher than in the second group. In the first group, there were 71 recurrences from 422 children (16.8%), and, in the second subgroup, there were 40 recurrences of acute otitis media (AOM) from 50 children (80%). The RR was 0.21. (4) Conclusions: The surgical approach in children aged 1-6 years who have been diagnosed with otitis media with effusion is reasonable and beneficial for the child.