One in three children in Tamil Nadu schools suffer from hearing problems, reveals study

The study involved 700 students in Vadamavanthal near Kancheepuram aged 8 to 14 years. At least 216 (30.9%) school children were suffering from hearing impairment. It was more prevalent in the age group of 8 years followed by the age group of 14 years. The sample population comprised students without congenital hearing issues. Talking to DT Next about the study, Dr Prasan Norman, assistant professor, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences located in Madurantakam, who also led the study, said that the leading cause was ear wax, followed by perforation of ear drum and presence of foreign bodies. He added that given that one in three children were suffering from hearing impairment, called for spreading awareness and education, apart from timely screening. “It is often the reason for them to drop out of school. And a significant number I had met had said that they could barely hear their teachers speak. Over the years, I have been seeing patients who have dropped out of school citing hearing problems,” he said.  Apart from questionnaires, the study also involved an Otolaryngologist, who examined their ears with an Otoscope. The study found that out of 700 students, only 94 students (13.4%) had visited a doctor for ENT related illness. Dr Norman added, “I have observed that in these villages, there is very little knowledge about cleaning their ears. They use everything from feather tips to pins, pushing the wax further inside.” He also said that the study calls for intervention from the teacher’s end for early screening.