Degree, Pattern, and Risk Factors of Hearing Loss Among Adults of Eastern India

Background and Objectives: Hearing loss (HL) is a significant global public health concern with an increasing burden falling on India because of factors such as aging, noise exposure, and such comorbidities as hypertension and diabetes. Despite these known risks, comprehensive data are lacking on the causes and patterns of HL in East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, especially in industrial settings. This study aims to address this gap by examining the contributing factors to HL among the local population.Subjects and Methods: This study included 295 adult patients of both sexes, aged 20-80 years, diagnosed with HL. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was performed to assess the pattern and degree of HL.Results: Of the 295 cases, most were females (52.54%); however, male participants, especially factory workers (p=0.005), had a higher prevalence of HL (p=0.038). Moreover, younger age (all p<0.05), alcohol use (p=0.003), alcohol and smoking (p<0.001), noise exposure with smoking (p=0.004), hypertension (p= 0.037), diabetes with hypertension (p=0.045), other comorbidities (p=0.018), and unilateral HL (p=0.002) appeared as significant risk factors for HL, as did various clinical diagnoses, including presbycusis (p<0.001), chronic otitis media (p= 0.003), noise-induced HL (p=0.007), sudden sensineural HL (p<0.001), and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (p=0.001).Conclusions: Noise exposure combined with a smoking habit, use of alcohol without smoking, smoking and alcohol, hypertension without diabetes, diabetes with hypertension, and other predisposing factors were key contributors to HL, highlighting the need for early intervention and management. The most common diagnosis was chronic otitis media.