Objectives: Determining the frequency of and the risk factors for hearing loss among school-age children by comparing the results of hearing screening in children from Syrian refugee and native Turkish population.
Methods: The results of the official hearing test, which was conducted by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey for schoolchildren in the first grade in the 2017-2018 academic year in the Province of Şanlıurfa, were analyzed.
Results: A total of 23,664 children were screened; 20,603 (87.1%) were Turkish native, and 3,061 (12.9%) were Syrian refugees. The age range was between 69 and 84 months. The screening results indicated in Turkish children, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in 0.26%, otitis media with effusion (OME) in 0.41%, and chronic otitis media (COM) in 0.08%. In the refugee children, the frequency of SNHL was 1.11%, OME was 0.94%, and COM was 0.62%. The rate of COM and SNHL was significantly higher in the refugee children (p < 0.001). Moreover, among those with hearing loss, the frequency of low birth weight, inflammatory diseases, and the family history of consanguineous marriage was significantly higher in refugee children compared to those in Turkish native population (p = 0.018, p = 0.003, and p = 0.022, respectively).
Conclusion: Hearing loss is a major preventable and treatable cause of developmental disorder in childhood. When untreated, hearing loss may delay speaking and prevent socio-emotional development, leading to longterm negative consequences. We believe that programs for hearing screening in schoolchildren should be expanded and that immigrants who carry several risk factors for developmental hearing loss should be included in these programs.
Keywords: Hearing screening; Schoolchildren; Syrian refugee.
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