Hearing loss in the visually impaired in Sabo community, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background

It has been observed that having two sensory disabilities such as visual impairment and hearing loss could be extremely incapacitating. The need for early detection of a possible second handicap in the blind especially hearing impairment cannot be over emphasized. Early detection and prompt management of such a case will improve the quality of life of the blind.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of associated hearing loss in the blind.

Methodology

This was a cross sectional study of 51 blind people living in Sabo area of Ibadan metropolis the capital of Oyo state, Nigeria. Volunteers were subjected to ophthalmic assessment and Otolaryngological examination followed by pure tone audiometry using Audiometer model 20 kamplex at the departments of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology of University College Hospital, Ibadan. Excluded from the study were all other blind people living in a different locality and those that declined to participate.

Data collected were analyzed using SPSS.

Result

Out of the fifty-one blind people recruited into this study, 36 were males and 15 females with a ratio of 2.4: 1. Their ages ranged from 8 months to 90years with a mean of 48.5years and standard deviation of 28.0. Twenty-five (49.0%) of the volunteers were elderly (>60years). The prevalence of hearing loss was 66.76%. The commonest type of hearing loss was sensorineural (68.3%). More than half of the visually impaired elderly also have hearing impairment.

Conclusion

The prevalence of hearing loss among the blind appears to be high. There is the urgent need therefore, to include the blind population in the national ear care programme in order to reduce the menace of dual sensory loss. Caregivers of the blind especially the elderly should be educated on the possibility of an associated hearing loss.