Table 3 The percentage of correct responses to the true or false questionnaire among parents (n = 1577)
From: Parents’ awareness of ear health in Madinah region, Saudi Arabia
Domain | No. | Item | No. of correct responses | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Infant hearing loss | 1. | It is possible to diagnose deafness in infants shortly after birth | 1201 | 76.2% |
2. | A deaf–mute cannot speak because of defects in the vocal tract | 509 | 32.3% | |
3. | Hearing loss may cause attention deficits, thus reducing school performance | 1387 | 88.0% | |
Cleaning and treating | 4. | Cotton buds are necessary for ear cleaning and are the safest means | 1131 | 71.7 % |
5. | Ear drops are sufficient to treat earache | 1254 | 79.5 % | |
6. | Otomycosis (itchy ears) can be contracted at the swimming pool | 1145 | 72.6% | |
7. | Drug abuse does not provoke auditory hallucinations or modifications of hearing quality | 1215 | 77.0 % | |
8. | Hearing aids need to fit accurately to provide the maximum benefit | 1496 | 94.9 % | |
Physical agents and overexposure | 9. | Kisses or slaps on the ears do not cause hearing problems | 1129 | 71.6% |
10. | Listening to music for more than 3 h a day using earphones may cause permanent hearing loss | 1025 | 65.0 % | |
11. | There are no tables recommending a reduction in the duration of exposure to high-intensity noises | 869 | 55.1 % | |
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 | 1418 | 89.9% |
13. | Sudden hearing loss is an emergency and requires an immediate audiological assessment | 1502 | 95.2% | |
14. | Age-related hearing loss may affect behavior | 1156 | 73.3% |