Socio-demographic and Audiological Profile of the Board-Reviewed Applicants for Hearing Handicap Certification in a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute in Eastern India

To analyze the socio-demographic and audiological profile of the applicants for hearing handicap certification in the Medical Board (henceforth, “Board”) of a tertiary care teaching institute. This is a retrospective record review (March 2019–February 2020) from the archival computer database of the institutional Board. The procedure for audiological assessment prior to Board review and thereafter, the evaluation at the Board (computation of hearing impairment) for eligibility for certification was discussed. The socio-demographic profile of the applicants (age, gender, faith) and the types of hearing impairment [HI%; organic (sensorineural, mixed), non-organic (malingering)] were analyzed with relevant statistical parameters. A HI% scale was introduced to classify the severity of the hearing deficit. Of the 163 applicants, 148 had organic hearing loss (average age: 35.4 years; 1.9 times male preponderance) and 15 were malingerers (average age: 35.7 years; 14 times male preponderance). The left ear contributed more to the hearing handicap. Most applicants having sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL; n = 124) were within 10–19 years and 40–49 years (19.35% each), with 12% being ≧ 60 years (age-associated hearing loss). Of the 13 applicants of age ≦ 12 years, eight were diagnosed with brainstem evoked response audiometry, and 10 had HI score of ≥ 70%. Muslim population with SNHL tended to avail certification 1.34 times more than the Hindus. Most of the applicants with mixed hearing loss (MHL; n = 24) were in their fifth and sixth decades (29.2% each), with three times male preponderance. Among the malingerers, the average malingering impairment was 66% (median: 61%; range 44–100%). Among the SNHL population, ~ 30% had HI at 90–100% in contrast to the MHL population of whom 8% had HI at > 90% and 29% had HI at 40– < 55%. Ten applicants among the organic hearing loss group (6.76%) (two with SNHL; eight with MHL) had HI scores of < 40% and were considered ineligible for certification. The outcomes of the review provided a comprehensive account of the socio-demographic profile of the applicants for handicap certification and the type of hearing loss prevailing in a given population. These data, and the severity stratification of the hearing disability through the HI% scale would provide the policymakers and stakeholders with proper directions to work upon.