Nicaraguan Deafness Research Project

On our first visits to Jinotega, we were prepared to see patients with chronic ear infections and conductive hearing loss. What we did not expect was the large number of patients -- mostly children -- with sensorineural hearing loss.

This observation prompted a detailed study of the hearing loss in the region. In the last year we've conducted screen ear surveys of the regional schools according to a protocol developed by the World Health Organization. Of the 260 children screened, 26 percent exhibited significant hearing loss, many of these related to hereditary factors or infections.

The next phase of this project, completed in June 2005, looked at the causes of hearing loss in this region and included genetics testing.

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