engleski

AUDIOMETRIC SCREENING OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT

Background and aims Regular daily exposure to sources of noise is common. Level of hearing impairment depends on intensity, frequency and type of noise. The most intensive impairment is induced by impulse noise such as gunshot or explosion. First dropouts are in the area of high frequency (4000 Hertz) and caused by noise intensity of 80 decibel. There is no effective treatment of consequences caused by noise. The aim of this study is detecting of school children with hearing impairment, by audiometric screening before entering high school. Subjects and Methods Hearing was tested by tonal audiometer on regular check up on pupils in 8th grade elementary school in year 2008/09. Children with suspect screening results were referred to specialist for further examination. Results Hearing impairment had 7, 2% boys and 0, 5% girls out of 208 tested boys and 210 girls. Two children had previous hearing impairment: unilateral deafness and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Conductional hearing loss was detected on 4 children. The cause of hearing loss in 10 children was acoustic trauma. Previous findings were present In 3 of children, but impairment was minor. Pupils with hearing loss cased by acoustic trauma have not dificulties in normal communication. Conclusions High percentage of hearing loss after acoustic trauma implicates importance of audiometric screening especially before entering high school. Children with hearing loss should be excluded from educational programs with high noise exposure and instruct about hearing preservation opportunities.

children; mass screening; hearing disorders

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