Discrepancies Between Self-Reported Measures of Hearing With an Audiometric Measurement of Hearing and Associated Factors in Ethiopia National Ear and Hearing Survey

Abstract

Background:

Hearing is often assessed clinically using pure-tone audiometry, while self-reported hearing measures are commonly employed in population-based studies. Discrepancies between self-reported hearing and audiometric thresholds have been frequently observed, necessitating an understanding of the prevalence and factors influencing these inconsistencies.

Objective:

To assess discrepancies between self-reported hearing with audiometric measurements and associated factors among adults in Ethiopia.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Ethiopian National Ear and Hearing Survey 2023. Data were collected from 5124 eligible participants using a data extraction template. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression, were performed using SPSS version 27.

Result:

Concordance between self-reported hearing and audiometric results was 86.3%. However, 11.1% underestimated their hearing impairment, while 2.5% overestimated it. Factors such as age (15-44 years), higher education, history of tinnitus, history of ear discharge, and abnormal tympanic membranes were significantly associated with reduced odds of underestimating hearing impairment. Conversely, the presence of earwax increased the likelihood of underestimation. Overestimation of hearing impairment was significantly associated to age (45-60 years), tinnitus, and earwax.

Conclusion and Recommendation:

The study revealed significant discrepancies between self-reported and audiometric hearing assessments, although overall concordance was high. The findings emphasize the need for both subjective and objective assessments for accurate hearing diagnosis.