Hearing Loss in Chronic Otitis Media Mucosal Type, Does This Have a Relation with Patient Demographic Profile, a Study in the Third World Country

The study was conducted to establish a relationship between hearing loss withthe demographic profile in patients with chronic otitis media inactive mucosal disease. Patients with chronic otitis media (COM) inactive mucosal disease, of both sexes and different age groups were assessed and grouped based on unilateral or bilateral ear involvement; rural and urban, and based on the duration of discharge. Hearing loss (HL) was measured by calculating the air-bone gap via pure-tone audiometry. The study included 210 ears, a total of 161 patients. The age group of patients ranged from 15 to 55 years. Maximum proportion (53 %) in younger age groups (15-25 years) but no relation with HL was seen. Incidence was higher in females, with significantly greater HL. Greater HL in bilateral involvement. 51% right ear and 49% left ear involvement; 59 % from the rural area, 41 % from urban areas; no significant difference in HL. Duration of ear discharge varied from2 months to several years; maximum proportion (41%) for more than 10 years, with maximum HL (27.18 dB). Hence, it was concluded that high incidence of COM was in patients in the younger age range, in females, in rural areas, and in unilateral ear involvement. HL was significantly higher with bilateral involvement and in the female population. Greater HL was associated with longer discharging ears.