Abstract
Introduction Hearing is important for the proper development of every child, especially for those
younger than 5 years of age, because it helps in the development of language and speech.
Emotional and social problems, as well as issues with academic performance, can result
from hearing loss even of mild degree. Early diagnosis and management can overcome
those negative impacts.
Objective To determine the prevalence of mild hearing loss in primary-school children and its
association with their school performance.
Methods A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at a regular school. The study
included the random selection of 120 apparently normal students (aged 6-9 years) who
were considered as having normal hearing by their parents. A total of 20 students
were excluded from the study due to the presence of wax in their ears. Finally, the
study was conducted with 100 students. All participants were subjected to a basic
audiological evaluation, and the Screening Instrument for Targeting Educational Risk
(SIFTER) questionnaire was given to their teachers to evaluate their school performance.
Results From a total of 100 students, we confirmed that 23 (23%) had mild hearing loss, 17
(17%) had bilateral conductive hearing loss, and 6 (6%) had bilateral sensorineural
hearing loss. The students who had low attention and communication performance were
significantly associated with mild hearing loss.
Conclusion The prevalence of mild hearing loss was of 23% (23 cases). This problem had an effect
on the communication and attention in school; and it might affect academic performance
later in life. A hearing assessment is highly recommended for every child, especially
those who have a low rate of academic performance.
Keywords prevalence - hearing loss - academic performance
