Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Child Hearing Lab, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Int J Audiol. 2021 Jul;60(7):521-531. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2020.1731616. Epub 2020 Mar 17.
Hearing loss is an important health concern in Canada's Arctic. The objective of this research was to provide information on the prevalence of childhood hearing loss in Nunavut.
This cross-sectional study involved comprehensive audiologic assessments of school-aged children in six communities to determine overall and community-specific prevalence of hearing loss. Data were collected about hearing aid use and factors affecting use through a parent questionnaire.
Assessments were completed for 644 children in kindergarten to grade 6.
124 (19.3%) children had hearing loss of ≥ 30 dB HL at one or more frequencies in at least one ear (93.5% conductive loss). Applying a Canadian prevalence study definition, 148 (23.5%) children had hearing loss. Tympanic membrane perforations were present in 36.8% ( = 28) of children with unilateral and 45.8% ( = 22) with bilateral loss.
The prevalence of hearing loss in Canada's North was almost three times that reported for non-indigenous children. One in five school-aged children was found to have hearing loss that is likely to affect classroom learning and social/emotional development. A hearing health strategy tailored to this population is critically needed.
听力损失是加拿大北极地区的一个重要健康问题。本研究的目的是提供努纳武特地区儿童听力损失流行情况的信息。
这是一项横断面研究，对六个社区的学龄儿童进行了全面的听力评估，以确定听力损失的总体和社区特异性流行率。通过家长问卷收集有关助听器使用情况和影响使用的因素的数据。
对幼儿园至六年级的 644 名儿童进行了评估。
在至少一只耳朵的一个或多个频率上有听力损失≥30dBHL 的儿童有 124 名（19.3%）（93.5%为传导性听力损失）。根据加拿大患病率研究的定义，有 148 名（23.5%）儿童有听力损失。单侧听力损失的儿童中有 36.8%（28 名）有鼓膜穿孔，双侧听力损失的儿童中有 45.8%（22 名）有鼓膜穿孔。
加拿大北部的听力损失患病率几乎是报告给非原住民儿童的三倍。每五个学龄儿童中就有一个被发现有听力损失，这可能会影响课堂学习和社会/情感发展。迫切需要为这一人群量身定制的听力健康策略。
