Prevalence: Outer and middel ear disorders in Black and Indian preschool children from Durban

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of middle ear disorders in 4-5 year old Black and Indian children attending preschools in the Durban Central region. Thus, a sample of 728 subjects (average age = 4,6 years), 315 Black (135 male and 180 female) and 413 Indian (223  male and 190 female) subjects was screened using referral criteria based on a Middle Ear Screening Protocol (MESP). The results of this study indicated that there was a significant relationship (X²=13,237,p<0,0001) between race and the likelihood of subjects passing and failing the MESP. A prevalence of 13,0% failures on the middle ear screening tests (visual inspection of the eardrum and tympanometry) was found in the Black subjects and 14,3% failure in the Indian subjects. No statistically significant differences were found between sex (Black male, Black female and Indian male, Indian female) and the likelihood of subjects passing and failing on the middle ear screening tests. Due to excessive cerumen, a significant percentage of Black (38,4%) and Indian (49,9%) subjects failed on outer ear tests. These results are discussed with reference to the literature. The limitations, research and practical implications of the research are also discussed.