Front Public Health. 2026 Mar 25;14:1703400. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1703400. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hearing loss and tinnitus in children are increasingly recognized as important public health concerns with potential long-term consequences for development and communication. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus in children, and to examine the concordance between parental subjective assessments and otoacoustic emission (OAE) results. Secondary aims were to investigate the association between hearing loss and sociodemographic factors, parents’ level of education, and to evaluate the effectiveness of different diagnostic methods in detecting pediatric hearing impairment.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 1,250 children aged 7-17 years. Participants underwent tympanometric, hearing threshold and OAEs testing and were divided into two groups according to age. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding hearing loss and presence of tinnitus.
RESULTS: The prevalence of positive hearing screening results was 3.5%, with a higher incidence in younger children, (the difference was not statistically significant). The prevalence of hearing loss was 4.5% among boys and 2.5% among girls (p = 0.097). A statistically significant discrepancy was observed between parental reports of hearing status and OAE results (p = 0.006). The prevalence of tinnitus in children and adolescents aged 7-17 years was 4.7%, with no significant statistical difference observed between age groups. Abnormal results in OAE were not associated with tinnitus (the results were not statistically significant). A statistically significant association was observed between hearing loss detected by OAE and caregiver education (p = 0.040, Z = -2.05), and between hearing loss and increased healthcare costs (p = 0.015). The effectiveness of hearing loss detection differed significantly between the diagnostic methods used (p = 0.030), with OAE testing showing the highest detection rate.
CONCLUSION: This study identifies a measurable prevalence of hearing loss and tinnitus among children, with a greater burden of hearing impairment observed in younger age. There is need for systematic, school-based hearing screening programs and improved parental and educator awareness of early hearing loss indicators. These findings support the integration of standardized pediatric hearing monitoring into public health strategies and underscore the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities in access to early diagnosis and intervention.
PMID:41960387 | PMC:PMC13057448 | DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1703400
