Pattern of Hearing Loss among Patients Attending the ENT Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss is a common health problem affecting individuals across the life course. Its clinical pattern varies according to age, type of ear disease, noise exposure, chronic systemic illness and other environmental and individual factors. Characterizing the pattern of hearing loss among patients attending tertiary ENT services can assist in identifying high-risk groups and planning appropriate diagnostic and rehabilitative services. Objective: To describe the demographic and clinical pattern of hearing loss among patients attending the ENT department of a tertiary care hospital and to assess selected factors associated with the type and severity of hearing loss. Methods: A hospital-based observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 patients with hearing loss attending the ENT outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Jammu. Demographic characteristics, laterality, type and degree of hearing loss, associated symptoms and selected risk factors were recorded. Hearing assessment was performed using appropriate clinical and audiological evaluation. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the chi-square test, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 52.4  15.8 years. Males constituted 56.3% of the participants. Bilateral hearing loss was observed in 65.3% of patients. Sensorineural hearing loss was the predominant type, accounting for 57.7% of cases, followed by conductive hearing loss (27.7%) and mixed hearing loss (14.6%). Moderate hearing loss was the most frequently observed degree of impairment (32.0%). Tinnitus was reported by 39.3% of patients. A significant association was observed between age group and type of hearing loss (, ). Sensorineural hearing loss was particularly frequent among patients older than 60 years. Noise exposure was also significantly associated with sensorineural hearing loss (). Conclusion: Sensorineural hearing loss was the predominant pattern among patients attending the tertiary ENT service, with bilateral involvement being more common than unilateral disease. Increasing age and noise exposure were significantly associated with sensorineural hearing loss. Early identification of hearing impairment and systematic audiological assessment may help facilitate timely intervention and rehabilitation.

Keywords: Hearing loss; sensorineural hearing loss; conductive hearing loss; audiometry; tinnitus; ENT; observational study.