Chronic suppurative otitis media and hearing loss among children in Eastern Greenland

Greenland has a high prevalence of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), causing hearing loss (HL) in children. Understanding regional differences in prevalence is essential for public health service provision. This school-based cross-sectional study is the first to examine the prevalence of HL among children attending the only school in Tasiilaq, East Greenland. Video-otoscopy, tympanometry and pure-tone air and bone conduction audiometry were performed. In total 92 of 114 children aged 5-11 were included. 51 children (55%) had HL defined as pure-tone-average (PTA) >15 dB in the worst hearing ear according to the American-Speech-Language-Hearing-Association-criteria. Whereas 21 children (23%) had HL with PTA >20 in worst hearing ear according to the WHO-criteria. None of the children had previously been diagnosed. Among the 184 otoscopies, 45 were normal (24%), 43 showed wax-block (23%), 10 showed tympanic membrane perforation (5%) and 86 had other otitis media-related sequelae (47%). A high prevalence of HL and CSOM were found among children in East Greenland. 25% of the children should be assessed for hearing rehabilitation, indicating that HL on the east coast remains undiagnosed and untreated. The results highlight regional variation in CSOM and HL and support the need for regional data and new initiatives to prevent HL across Greenland.