Revista de Saúde Pública (Jun 2013)

Survey of hearing disorders in an urban population in Rondonia, Northern Brazil

  • Maria Cecilia Bevilacqua,
  • Marcos Roberto Banhara,
  • Ariadnes Nobrega de Oliveira,
  • Adriane Lima Mortari Moret,
  • Katia de Freitas Alvarenga,
  • Magali de Lourdes Caldana,
  • Luis Marcelo Aranha Camargo,
  • Orozimbo Alves Costa,
  • Jose Roberto de Magalhaes Bastos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2013047004059
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 47, no. 2
pp. 309 – 315

Abstract

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OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of hearing loss for the population in the urban area. METHODS: A cross-sectional household survey based on the World Health Organization Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol was conducted in 298 households in the urban area of Monte Negro, Rondonia, Northern Brazil, from 2005 to 2007. Ear examinations, behavioral audiometry and pure tone audiometry were conducted on 577 individuals. RESULTS: The results showed that 3.8% (95%CI 2.17;5.45) of population were classified in the disabling hearing impairment category. The prevalence of moderate hearing impairment was 3.4%; severe impairment was 0.4%; and profound hearing impairment was not found. CONCLUSIONS: The impairing hearing loss prevalence found in this study is within of the international prevalence for this level of hearing loss and smaller than observed in a previous study in the South region of Brazil.

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