Hearing in elementary school children in Nuuk and Sisimiut, Greenland

The study is a retrospective evaluation of audiometric screening tests and registration charts of 167 school children in the towns Sisimiut and Nuuk, Greenland. The children were from 5 to 14 years old. The test performed was pure tone air conduction audiometry at frequencies from 250 to 8000 Hz. In total 43% of the children had hearing thresholds exceeding hearing loss (HL) of 20 dB at one or more frequencies in either one or both ears. The threshold elevations were most common and more severe at the high frequencies (6000-8000 Hz). At the mid frequencies (500-2000 Hz) a HL greater than 20 dB was found in 32/166 (19%) of the children, seven (4%) of whom were bilaterally affected. Seventeen children (10%) had HL at two or all frequencies in the mid frequency range. HL was significantly more frequent in Sisimiut in total 95% CI = 11-40%; (p < 0.002). In Sisimiut 7/78 (9%) of the children had chronic otitis media (COM) and one had grommets. In Nuuk 5/89 (5.5%) had COM and one had congenital unilateral HL. All children with COM had HL. Audiometric screening in Greenland is indispensable for identification of children with hearing impairment and to ensure their rehabilitation.