Open AccessHearing tests in a residential unit for learning-disabled people
Author(s) -
Claire E. Lewis,
Michael Brown,
Craig Jackson,
Janet Theobold
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
morecambe bay medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2634-0631
pISSN - 1466-707X
DOI - 10.48037/mbmj.v2i9.1046
Subject(s) - referral , audiology , unit (ring theory) , learning disability , medicine , psychology , hearing loss , family medicine , developmental psychology , mathematics education
We report on the findings of a survey performed on the hearing and oral health of the residents of a unit for those with learning disabilities. The results indicate a number of significant findings, the most important of which is the very high prevalence of impacted wax (78% ). In addition, 9% of the subjects were found to need referral to an ENT surgeon due to lesions within the ear. During our investigations we were also able to uncover 24 (34%) previously unreported hearing losses, from mild to profound. The implications of these findings and others are discussed and recommendations made for those thinking of offering a similar service.