Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Hearing loss is one of the most common public health challenges affecting individuals of all age groups in different parts of the world. World Health Organization estimated approximately 1.3 billion of the world population to have some degree of hearing loss. This study aims to ascertain the prevalence and pattern of hearing loss amongst patients living with hearing disabilities in rivers state. A survey was conducted with 63 participants at the Ear, Throat, and Nose Unit of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) to collect demographic and basic health information. The study reveals that 55.6% of the participants were females while 44.4% were males. The highest age group affected was 36-55 years, with lowest prevalence was observed in individuals aged 76 years and above. Among the participants, 93.7% lived within Port Harcourt metropolis while 6.3% lived outside the city. The majority were Christians, and traders made up 46.0% of the study population. Regarding marital status, 47.6% were married, while widows accounted for the least proportion (6.3%). The overall hearing status of the participants’ spouses showed that 66.7% had normal hearing while 33.3% had hearing loss. Acquired hearing loss was the most prevalent type, with various underlying aetiologies. Among those with family history of hearing loss, 77.8% had a first-degree relative while 22.2% had a second-degree relative with hearing loss. The majority had no family history of hearing loss. The most common cause was genetic disorders (41.3%), followed by noise exposure (19.0%) while infection accounted for the lowest proportion (11.1%). The prevalent rate of hearing loss is alarming which posed a great public health concern to the populace. A prompt medical care and support by the government and other relevant stakeholders are strongly advocated.