The Investigation of Hearing Loss in Patients with Thalassemia Major Referred to Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS) Hospital in Sistan and Baluchistan Province (Iran).

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing disorders are one of the major complications in patients with thalassemia major. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to investigate hearing loss in patients with thalassemia major referred to Hazrat Ali Asghar Hospital in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 56 patients with thalassemia major who were referred to Ali Asghar Hospital in 2021-2022 and met the inclusion criteria into the present research. After obtaining the written consent of all participants, they underwent an audiometry test and were further examined. All information was collected in the researcher-made questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS version 24 software.

Results: Among the 56 eligible patients, 11 subjects (19.6%) had hearing loss. In terms of age, there was no statistically significant difference in hearing loss (P<0.05). Among the 11 patients with hearing loss, one patient (9.1%) had conductive hearing loss, three patients (27.3%) had sensorineural hearing loss, one patient (9.1%) had mixed hearing loss and six patients (54.5%) had hearing loss at frequencies above 5000 Hz. In terms of gender, there was no statistically significant difference in hearing loss. The average duration of Desferal in patients with hearing loss was significantly longer than other subjects (P<0.05).

Conclusion: To prevent and treat hearing complications caused by thalassemia, regular and periodic hearing screening of all thalassemia patients is recommended.