Prevalence of Hearing Problems among School-aged Children Enrolled in Special Education in Selected Public Schools in Ilocos Norte

Background. Hearing screening for school-aged children is crucial to identify cases missed by newborn screening, detect delayed-onset hearing loss, and address middle ear conditions that can cause hearing impairment. This is particularly important for children with special educational needs, who may present atypical developmental patterns, increasing their risk for undetected hearing issues.

Objective. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hearing problems among students enrolled in inclusive classes at selected public special education (SPED) schools in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, during the 2023–2024 academic year.

Methods. Fifty-six (56) children aged 6 to18 years old with various disabilities, with or without medical diagnoses, were screened using a protocol that included visual inspection, otoscopy, tympanometry, screening pure tone audiometry (PTA), and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). Children unable to complete the tests were classified as "unable to test" (UTT) and included in the analysis.

Results. Out of 56 participants, 15 (26.79%) had otologic problems, with impacted cerumen being the most common issue (19.61%). Sensorineural hearing loss (93.33%) was more prevalent than conductive hearing loss (6.66%), with severity ranging from mild (33.33%) to moderate (6.66%) to profound (60%). Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) showed the highest UTT rates. Compliance was higher for TEOAE (72.72%) compared to screening PTA (52.72%). There was an overall 78% average compliance with all procedures.

Conclusion. The study highlights a significant prevalence of hearing problems among children with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of early detection. Prioritizing otoscopy, tympanometry with ipsilateral acoustic reflex testing, and TEOAE may improve screening efficiency and compliance in this population.