Prevalence and Patterns of Hearing Loss Among Primary School Pupils in Dodoma Municipality, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Hearing is one of the crucial senses during early childhood development, as it plays an essential role in language acquisition, speech development, and social interaction. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of hearing loss among primary school pupils in Dodoma Municipality
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 5 to 15 years in eight public and private
primary schools in Dodoma Municipality. Hearing loss was assessed using a calibrated Amplivox 207 diagnostic
audiometer. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26, with descriptive statistics used to summarize participant characteristics and hearing loss patterns. Chi-square tests were used to examine associations between hearing loss and socio-demographic factors, with statistical significance set at P <.05.
Results: A total of 206 primary school pupils from eight schools were screened for hearing loss. Of these, 117 (56.8%)
were males and more than half of the pupils, 116 (56.3%), were from public schools. The prevalence of hearing loss was 5.3%, with conductive hearing loss accounting for the majority of cases (81.8%). Among the 11 pupils identified with hearing loss, 10 (90.9%) had mild hearing loss, while 1 (9.1%) had moderate hearing loss. Regarding lateralization of hearing loss, 45.5% had bilateral hearing loss and 54.5% had unilateral hearing loss, with the unilateral cases equally distributed between the left and right ears. A statistically significant association was observed between hearing loss and type of school attended, with all affected pupils coming from public schools.
Conclusion: Hearing loss was found to be present among primary school children, with conductive hearing loss being the predominant type. Most affected pupils had mild hearing loss, involving either one or both ears. Regular screening of hearing loss among primary school children should be conducted so that prompt treatment can be initiated for those affected