Health Seeking Behavior Among Parents of Children with Hearing Loss: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Prevalence of hearing loss is 11.7% of the school going population (5-15 years). Such children fail to develop speech, language and cognitive skills unless proper habilitation is initiated. If detected early and managed suitably, will have a far better chance at a normal life than those who are habilitated late or not at all.

Aims & objectives: To detect the age of suspicion, identification, intervention and treatment seeking behavior of children with hearing loss.

Materials & methods: This was a cross- sectional study done in Children between 5 and 15 years age-group with hearing loss, coming to an ENT OPD, New Civil Hospital, Surat during the period of 1^st August 2011 to 31 July 2012.

Results: A total of 246 children were studied. Mean age of the study population was 9±3.46 years. Average age at first suspicion of hearing loss was 2.9±1.7 years, first consultation was 3.5±1.5 years and first intervention was 7.8±3.3 years. There was significant association between age of first suspicion of congenital hearing loss with father’s occupation (p=0.03). There was significant association between delay in diagnosis and gender (p= 0.04). As the level of education of parents and socio- economic status increased, preference for private set ups for first consultation also increased (p< 0.05). In 63.5% cases, advice of general practitioner resulted in the delay in referral to ENT specialist.

Conclusion & Recommendations: Even after primary care, an average gap of 4.3 years is observed among parents for receiving intervention. Mother is the first person to suspect hearing loss among their children. Basic training of general practitioner/ MBBS doctors regarding primary ear care is required.