Hearing screening in Jamaica: prevalence of otitis media with effusion.

Hearing screening is well established in most developed countries, and the data extensively published. However, little information has been presented by the developing, nonwhite populations. A screening study was carried out on 2202 Jamaican children aged 5 to 7 years. This involved tympanometry and pure-tone audiometry (frequencies of 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz.) Failure was considered to have occurred if a type B or C curve was obtained or if the threshold of hearing was greater than 20 dB. These children were further evaluated by a full ear, nose, and throat examination, inclusive of pneumatic otoscopy, and audiologic testing. The prevalence of hearing impairment was 4.9%. Otitis media with effusion (OME) was present in 1.9%. The prevalence of OME in Jamaica is low when compared with that of the same age-group in the developed countries.