Factors Leading to Conductive Hearing Loss among Children Living in Delhi Slum Areas

Background: Middle-ear diseases in children pose a significant burden to the healthcare system. Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, cold, and cough often initiate middle ear disease. It results in mild to moderate hearing impairment that can be detrimental to the child's linguistic development. It can further lead to behavioural and cognitive problems. The study was designed to establish a relationship between common middle pathologies like CSOM and OME with hearing loss in children. Objective: To determine the prevalence of middle ear pathology and its association with hearing loss in slum children of Delhi. Methods: A study was conducted with 269 children aged five to ten years. The children were screened by otoscopic examination, followed by Tympanometry and then by Pure Tone Audiometry. Results: The prevalence of middle ear problems was 24.2%, out of which the prevalence of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) was 10.8%, Otitis media with effusion (OME) was 12.3% and Acute Otitis Media (AOM) was 1.1%. A significant correlation (p< 0.005) was found between hearing loss and middle ear pathology like CSOM and OME. Out of the 65 children with ear pathology, hearing loss was detected in 55 children, out of which 29 children with CSOM, moderated conductive hearing loss was detected in 28 children and out of 33 OME children, mild to moderate conductive hearing loss was detected in 26 children. Conclusion: The article highlights the high prevalence of middle ear pathology in underprivileged children. The study also concludes the high probability of conductive hearing loss in these children. It is recommended that there is more need for awareness for early detection and treatment of middle ear infection to avoid any language and behavioural problems in the future. Also, the disparity between children living in urban and rural areas needs to be bridged.