Table 1 Questionnaire to evaluate parents’ awareness of ear health and hearing loss
From: Parents’ awareness of ear health in Madinah region, Saudi Arabia
Statement | Correct response |
|---|---|
Infant hearing loss | |
1. It is possible to diagnose deafness in infants shortly after birth | True |
2. A deaf–mute cannot speak because of defects in the vocal tract | False |
3. Hearing loss may cause attention deficits, thus reducing school performance | True |
Cleaning and treating | |
4. Cotton buds are necessary for ear cleaning and are the safest means | False |
5. Ear drops are sufficient to treat earache | False |
6. Otomycosis (itchy ears) can be contracted at the swimming pool | True |
7. Drug abuse does not provoke auditory hallucinations or modifications of hearing quality | False |
8. Hearing aids need to fit accurately to provide the maximum benefit | True |
Physical agents and overexposure | |
9. Kisses or slaps on the ears do not cause hearing problems | False |
10. Listening to music for more than 3 h a day using earphones may cause permanent hearing loss | True |
11. There are no tables recommending a reduction in the duration of exposure to high-intensity noises | False |
Diagnostic delay | |
12. Irritating perception of sound (e.g., hearing metallic voices) and/or a reduction in hearing clarity (such as a sensation of having cotton wool in the ears) require medical advice | True |
13. Sudden hearing loss is an emergency and requires an immediate audiological assessment | True |
14. Age-related hearing loss may affect behavior | True |