Hearing alterations in children aged 7 to 9 years old from an elementary public school in São Luís, Maranhão

Abstract

The objective of this study was to verify the hearing alterations and their frequencies in children aged 7-9 years old from a public elementary school in São Luís, Maranhão. The study was carried out from May to July, 2004, with 101 first grade scholars, 52 boys and 49 girls. The scholars were evaluated by means of otoscopic, audiometric and tympanometric procedures at the Medical Dental Integrated Clinic. The tests involving 202 ears demonstrated that 27% (54) of these had cerumen impaction. One scholar showed perforated tympanic membrane (0.5%). Hearing within the normal limits was observed in 75.7% (153) of the ears, while 24.3% (49) presented hearing alterations. The most frequent alterations were the conductive hearing loss, in 15% (31) of the ears, followed by the sensorineural hearing loss, in 6% (13). Mixed hearing loss occurred in 2.5% (5). Imitation testing involving 201 ears showed altered tympanic membrane: type B curve in 8.5% (17) and type C curve in 9.5% (19). There were no statistical associations between hearing impairments and gender or between hearing impairments and laterality of the ear. It was concluded that hearing evaluation of school children is necessary for the early identification and correction of its multiple consequences.