Unilateral hearing impairment in Oman: a community-based cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Hearing loss is a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding the prevalence and causes of unilateral hearing loss is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Previous data on unilateral hearing impairment in Oman was limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of unilateral hearing impairment in Oman.
• To identify the common causes of unilateral hearing loss in the Omani population.
• To analyze demographic differences in unilateral hearing impairment rates.

Main Methods:

• A national survey involving 11,402 randomly selected households was conducted.
• Trained healthcare personnel screened subjects for hearing loss between October 1996 and February 1997.
• Otologists reexamined individuals with reported hearing impairment to confirm diagnosis and etiology.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of unilateral hearing impairment in Oman was calculated at 30.06 per 1,000 population.
• Males exhibited a significantly higher prevalence rate (36.67/1,000) compared to females (23.88/1,000).
• The most frequent identifiable causes were impacted earwax (16.0%) and otitis media with effusion (13.1%), with genetic causes accounting for less than 2%.

Conclusions:

• Unilateral hearing impairment is prevalent in Oman, with notable gender disparity.
• Common causes differ from those of bilateral hearing loss, emphasizing the need for specific diagnostic approaches.
• Mild hearing loss constituted just over half of the cases, indicating a potential for early detection and management.