Section: 
Science articles
Science articlesState of auditory function of children in orphanages evacuated from war zone
S. V. Levin (1), (2), I. E. Grebenyuk (2), E. A. Levina (1)
(1) Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Ear, Throat, Nose and Speech, Saint Petersburg, 190013, Russia, (2) Network of Medical Centers „MasterSluh“, Taganrog, 347900, Russia
UDK: УДК 616.28-009:616.28-008.14:616.286]-072.7-053.2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2023-1-35-40
ABSTRACT
In this study, the structure and frequency of hearing impairment in children who lived at various times in the territories of military operations were studied. The high prevalence of otorhinolaryngological diseases, combined with low detectability, entails formidable complications, leads to a decrease in the quality of life of the child and the family as a whole, and negatively affects the general level of public health. In total, during the study, 398 children aged 5 to 16 years old were examined, who were in the temporary accommodation center of the Romashka children’s resting camp. The children are students of orphanages in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) evacuated from the war zone in the first days of the Special Operation. There were 216 girls (54.3%) and 182 boys (45.7%) among them. The average age of children was 8.5 years. Hearing loss was detected in 33 children (8.3%). Two children (0.5%) had a severe form of sensorineural hearing loss of 3–4 degrees. Two children (0.5%) had a mild form of sensorineural hearing loss of 1–2 degrees. Four children (1%) had unilateral chronic sensorineural hearing loss. The diagnosis of otitis media with effusion was established in 20 children (5%), tubo-otitis, in three patients (0.8%). Suspicion of an anomaly in the development of the middle ear, in 2 children (0.5%). Examination of children in orphanages evacuated from the DPR and LPR did not reveal a high prevalence of hearing impairment. Sensoneural hearing loss: 2%, conductive hearing loss: 6.3%. The results of the work demonstrate a wide potential for improving hearing health in the examined children. Active diagnostics of hearing pathology is shown to all children in orphanages. After treatment of conductive hearing pathology, mandatory audiological monitoring is indicated, despite the subjective improvement in hearing.
Publication date:
06.03.2023
Keywords:
audiometry, tympanometry, sensorineural hearing loss, sensorineural deafness, conductive hearing loss, otitis. For citation:
Levin S. V., Grebenyuk I. E., Levina E. A. State of auditory function of children in orphanages evacuated from war zone. Russian Otorhinolaryngology. 2023;22(1):35-40. https://doi.org/10.18692/1810-4800-2023-1-35-40