Vidya Ramkumar

Knowledge and Beliefs about Ear and Hearing Health among Mothers of Young Children in a Rural Community in South India

Summary: We assessed the feasibility of conducting Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing in a mobile van with satellite connectivity, with the help of trained health workers. ABR recordings in newborn babies made by telemedicine were compared with recordings made face to face. The auditory evoked response equipment was controlled by an audiologist at a nearby hospital. Videoconferencing was used during the testing process to monitor patient preparation by the village health worker. A total of 24 newborns (13 male and 11 female) aged 8–30 days underwent ABR in face-to-face and tele-mode. There was no significant difference between peak V latency measured at three intensity levels in the two modes. Agreement between the two methods of measurement was examined with a Bland-Altman plot. Almost all points were within the limits of agreement, suggesting no bias in the telemedicine measurements. Real-time tele-ABR testing as a component of newborn hearing screening is feasible in a mobile van using satellite link with the assistance of village health workers.

Activity limitation and participation restriction (AL/PR) on account of tinnitus was studied in the ICF framework in order to understand how tinnitus restricts individuals from fulfilling social and economic obligations. The objective of the study was to study the impact of tinnitus in the framework of ICF. Twenty-one adults in the age range of 20–60 years with chronic tinnitus (>3 months) and with normal hearing sensitivity were included in the study. THI was mapped to the framework of ICF. Twenty out of twenty-five items belonged to the domains under body function and five items addressed AL/PR. Five more AL/PR items applicable to tinnitus were added to THI. The THI+ICF questionnaire tested well on test reliability (0.987) and internal consistency (0.873). Body function was significantly more affected than AL/PR (P = 0.0005). These results suggest that tinnitus does not result in significant AL/PR from the ICF perspective. Further, psycho-acoustic characteristics such as intensity, frequency of tinnitus, and time since onset of tinnitus have only minimal if any impact on AL/PR. Sumario Se estudió la limitación de actividad y la restricción en la participación (AL/PR) por el acúfeno en el marco de la ICF, para entender cómo éste restringe a las personas para el cumplimiento de sus obligaciones sociales y económicas. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar el impacto del acúfeno en el marco de la ICF. Se incluyeron en este estudio veintiún adultos de 20–60 años con acúfeno crónico (>3 meses) y con normalidad auditiva. Se hizo el mapeo del THI en el marco de la ICF. Veinte de los veinticinco items pertenecieron al área de función corporal y cinco estuvieron dirigidos al área de AL/PR. Se agregaron al THI, cinco items AL/PR relacionados con el acúfeno. El cuestionario THI1ICF funcionó bien en cuanto a su confiabilidad (0.987) y consistencia interna (0.873). La función corporal fue significativamente más afectada que las áreas de AL/PR (P = 0.0005). Estos resultados sugieren que el acúfeno no determina una afección significativa en cuanto a AL/PR desde la perspectiva de la ICF. Más aún, las características psicoacústicas como intensidad, frecuencia del acúfeno y tiempo desde que empezó, tienen solo un impacto mínimo si no es que nulo, en la AL/PR.