The prevalence and causes of hearing impairment in Oman: a community-based cross-sectional study

A community-based nationwide survey for hearing loss was conducted in Oman in 1996–97. Audiometric tests and ear examinations were conducted for 12 400 persons in phase I. For children aged less than 4 years, subjective screening tests were used. In phase II, otologists examined the hearing-impaired subjects to determine the cause. The prevalence of bilateral hearing impairment was 55/1000 (95% CI 51.08–59.47). Gender difference was not significant. The rates were 325/1000 and 17/1000, respectively, in the _60-year and _10-year age groups. Presbyacusis and middle ear diseases, respectively, were the causes of 33% and 20% of bilateral hearing impairment. In 30% of the bilateral hearing-impaired subjects, the cause could not be determined. The prevalence of bilateral disabling hearing loss was 21/1000 (95% CI 18.07–23.29). Noise-induced trauma was responsible for only 1.4% of cases of disabling hearing loss. Establishing primary ear care, introducing hearing screening for neonates and schoolchildren, promoting safe preventive practices for ear care, strengthening secondary-level ear care services and introducing comprehensive rehabilitative initiatives for the hearing-disabled are recommended to reduce the hearing loss rates.