Prevalence and Patterns of Hearing Thresholds in Unilateral Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Analysis at the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna.

Background: Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) is a prevalent audiological concern that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. This retrospective study, conducted at the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna, aimed to determine the hearing threshold pattern in a cohort of 693 patients with UHL, ranging in age from 5 to 70 years.

Materials and methods: Data collected between January 2018 and December 2022 included pure-tone audiometry results, patient demographics, and medical history. Audiometric assessments were conducted using an A2d diagnostic audiometer. Descriptive statistics and graphical representations were used to analyse the data and identify patterns in hearing thresholds at various frequencies.

Results: The analysis revealed distinct hearing threshold patterns in patients with UHL. Notably, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was the most prevalent type, with 68.05% of participants exhibiting this pattern. Conductive hearing loss and mixed hearing loss were observed in 19.32% and 12.63% of participants, respectively. The hearing threshold patterns varied between the right and left ears, suggesting the importance of considering laterality in clinical assessments.

Conclusion: This study contributes valuable insights into the hearing threshold patterns in patients with UHL, encompassing a broad age range. The predominance of SNHL highlights the need for tailored diagnostic and management approaches. Understanding the audiometric characteristics of this population is essential for the development of patient-specific interventions and treatment strategies.