THE PATTERN OF HEARING LOSS AS SEEN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss is a major cause of disability in developing countries. It presents with enormous problems
in Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to determine the gender and age distribution, types, severity
and the aetiological factors for hearing loss.
Material and Methods: This study was carried at the Department of ENT, University of Benin Teaching Hospital,
Benin City, Nigeria from September 2004 to August 2005. All patients with hearing loss aging above ten years
were included. Very ill and suspected psychiatric patients were excluded. Pure tone air conduction thresholds
were measured for the frequencies 250Hz, 500Hz,1000Hz, 2000Hz, 4000Hz and 8000Hz and bone conduction
thresholds at 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz and 4,000Hz. Gender, age in years and age group were demographic
while PTA level, type, severity and aetiology of hearing loss were the research variables. The type of hearing loss
was deduced from the audiogram. Continuous data was analyzed as minimum, maximum, mean and SD, and
ordinal and nominal data as frequency and percentage.
Results: Out of 980 patients seen in the ENT clinic during the period of study, 281 (28.7%) had hearing loss,
but only 257 were included in study. There were 139 males (54.1%) and 118 females (45.9%). The mean age of
the sample was 40.5±19.4 (10.0-100.0) years. Major causes of hearing loss were ototoxicity (15.7%), chronic
suppurative otitis media (14.9%), presbyacusis (13.2%), wax impaction (8.9%) and rhinosinusitis (7.4%).
Conclusion: Out of 980 patients, 281 (28.7%) had hearing loss. 22 aetiological factors were implicated for hearing
loss but ototoxicity, Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) and presbyacusis were commonest.