Screening for Hearing Loss in Preschool-Aged Children: A First in Algeria

Abstract

Introduction: Deafness in children is the cause of speech disorders, school disorders, psychoaffective disorders and mental development disorders. These children have a variety of pathologies that complicate the diagnosis and treatment of the problem.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of deafness in primary schools in Mostaganem in Algeria through a large-scale active screening program in two steps.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study based on a systematic screening of preschool children enrolled in schools in Mostaganem over a two-year period. Children were examined using otoscopy and four testing modalities: pure tone audiometry, otoacoustic distortion product emissions (DPOAE), tympanometry, and auditory brainstem response. The first stage at school, the second step is carried out in the ENT department for children with abnormal otoscopy or positive acoustics otoemission test carried out in the first test.

Results:

3427 children were examined, the sex ratio was 0.87. We accounted 39.84% of children with hearing problem at the first stage of screening. A predominance of cerumen impaction and seromucous otitis, acute otitis media along with other less frequent pathologies. 7% of children had hearing loss requiring long-term treatment and follow-up.

Conclusions: These results strongly suggest the potential benefit of systematic screening of preschool-age children for hearing loss.