Knowledge and Practices of Hearing Screening and Hearing Loss Management among Ear, Nose, and Throat Physicians in Saudi Arabia

One of the main factors that lead to increased hearing loss consequences and progression is inadequate knowledge and practice of hearing screening and hearing loss management modalities. In Saudi Arabia, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians are the primary source of knowledge about hearing loss and its management. The aim of the present study is to assess the knowledge and practice of hearing screening and hearing loss management among ENT physicians in Saudi Arabia. The aim of the present study is to assess the knowledge and practice of hearing screening and hearing loss management among ENT physicians in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study with 106 ENT physicians working at different hospitals in Saudi Arabia from January to May 2023. A questionnaire consisting of 2 sections with 20 questions was used to assess the knowledge and practice of hearing screening and hearing loss management for children. The current study showed inadequate knowledge of hearing loss and its management. The mean knowledge score was of 12.4 ± 2.12. The knowledge scores of the different types of ENT professionals were compared, and no statistically significant differences were observed (p = 0.489). More research should be conducted to assess the practice of hearing screening in Saudi Arabia. Our recommendation is the provision of more educational sessions about the recent guidelines on hearing loss screening.