gms | German Medical Science

Within a screening project of the ministry of education of Hessen and the Aalen University of applied Sciences 3049 schoolchildern aged from 5 to 18 years were tested. An audiometric test in the frequency range from 250 Hz up to 6 kHz, a Lang-stereotest in screening for binocular disorders, a visual test with Landolt rings and three equilibrium tests (Romberg, standing on one leg, balancing) were carried out.

9% of the tested pupils had a hearing loss of more than 15 dB HL at least on one frequency. Severe unknown hearing losses were discovered, where a hearing aid fitting seems appropriate. 37% of the primary pupils from grade one to four and 65% of the secondary school pupils had experienced tinnitus. Primary pupils who played an instrument had with a prevalence rate ratio (PRR) of 0.6 [0.4; 0.8] significantly less hearing losses than children who don’t make music. Playing an instrument is an indicator that the parents are in a higher social class. Schoolchildren (secondary school) who own a MP3-player showed with a prevalence rate ratio of 0.8 [0.6; 1.1] no increased risk for a hearing loss, even if the usage per day and the loudnesslevel of the music listening is taken into account. A tendency to an increased risk for a hearing loss could be observed by children with otitis media in the medical history PRR:1.3 [0.9; 1.9] and by children with an acoustic trauma from blasts like fire crackers PRR 1.6 [1.0; 2.6].

The results indicate that a screening of schoolchildren is needed regulary. The observed sensorial losses can lead to learning deficits and serious disadvantages at school.