Hearing loss prevalence and hearing health among school-aged children in the Canadian Arctic

Abstract

Objective

Hearing loss is an important health concern in Canada’s Arctic. The objective of this research was to provide information on the prevalence of childhood hearing loss in Nunavut.

Design

This cross-sectional study involved comprehensive audiologic assessments of school-aged children in six communities to determine overall and community-specific prevalence of hearing loss. Data were collected about hearing aid use and factors affecting use through a parent questionnaire.

Study sample

Assessments were completed for 644 children in kindergarten to grade 6.

Results

124 (19.3%) children had hearing loss of ≥ 30 dB HL at one or more frequencies in at least one ear (93.5% conductive loss). Applying a Canadian prevalence study definition, 148 (23.5%) children had hearing loss. Tympanic membrane perforations were present in 36.8% (n = 28) of children with unilateral and 45.8% (n = 22) with bilateral loss.

Conclusions

The prevalence of hearing loss in Canada’s North was almost three times that reported for non-indigenous children. One in five school-aged children was found to have hearing loss that is likely to affect classroom learning and social/emotional development. A hearing health strategy tailored to this population is critically needed.

Keywords:

• Hearing loss
• hearing assessment
• Inuit
• indigenous
• children
• amplification

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the children and families who participated in this project. The contributions of the teachers, principals and assistants in the Nunavut schools were vital to this endeavour. The authors also thank the Medical Officer of Health for the interest and support in this project. The authors are grateful to DiaTec Canada for loaning audiology equipment for the assessments. The authors acknowledge the efforts of all of the audiologists who were involved in the assessments: Alison Burton, Kelly Leighton, Kim Hurley, Sarah Ryan, Lynne Burdett, and Erica Wong. Finally, The authors appreciate the work of the research assistants at the Child Hearing Lab, Ottawa.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data files related to this project are confidentially stored at the Child Hearing Lab, CHEO Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the Department of Health, Government of Nunavut, with support from the Arctic Inspiration Prize and the Rotary Club of Guelph. Data analysis was supplemented by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award (2009e14) to the first author (EMF).