Acoustic and Speech Perceptual Evaluation of health related Quality of Life among adults with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Abstract

Background: Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media, patients suffer from hearing loss causing communication problems and social withdrawal. Objective: To assess the acoustic iand speech perceptual evaluation iof health related quality of life among adults iwith Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media. Methodology: This cross sectional study was performed in ENT/Audiology Departments of District Headquarter Hospital, Hafizabad and Saqib Bashir General Hospital, Hafizabad, from March, 2015 to September, 2018, after the approval of synopsis. Covenient sampling method was used to induct 101 patients with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media meeting inclusion criteria. Pure itone audiometry and speech audiometry were performed. A statement based questionnaire COMOT-15 was used to measure the scoring difference in cases. Results: The mean age of patients was 33±10 years and 53 (52.47%) were male. Out of 101 patients,the speech deficit was moderate in 7 (6.93%) patients, moderately severe in 19 (18.81%), severe in 42 (41.58%) and speech deficit was profound in 33 (32.67%) patients. There were 10 (9.90%) patients with conductive type of hearing loss, 91 (90.09%) with mixed type of hearing loss. Chronic Otitis  Media Outcome Test-15 (COMOT-15), overall score was between 41-50 in 11 (10.89%) patients, 51-60 in 62 (61.38%) patients and Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test-15 (COMOT-15) overall score was between 61-70 in 28 (27.72%) patients. Conclusion: This study showed that speech deficit was severe to profound in majority of patients with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media. Mixed type of hearing loss is commonest type of deafness and very high scores were observed on COMOT-15 scale, which reflects a significant impairment in quality of life.