Prevalence of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Sulaymaniyah Governorate

Abstract

Background: Exposure to noise is a common and preventable cause of hearing loss. It is exacerbated by technological advancements and urban expansion worldwide. This condition can severely impact quality of life. Due to limited research and rapid industrialization, it is necessary to understand the impact of NIHL on the general population to improve approaches and outcomes for all cases. Materials and Methods: Our study was a retrospective cross-sectional study in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The data was collected from the Shar Audiological Center and multiple private clinics from January 15, 2023, to January 17, 2024. Patients were categorized into NIHL, Normal, and Other. While data collection was localized to major urban centers, the sample is structurally representative of the broader Sulaymaniyah Governorate population due to regional healthcare infrastructure constraints. Public sector audiological services are highly centralized, with the Shar Audiological Center operating as the primary referral hub for the entire governorate. When overburdened, specialized private audiology clinics are the next point of contact. These in themselves are 4-5 clinics concentrated in the city center. Consequently, patients requiring audiological evaluation (including those residing in underserved rural and peri-urban districts) must travel to these centralized facilities. The sample therefore naturally aggregates a diverse demographic of cases from the governorate. Audiometric testing was conducted in a soundproof booth meeting American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. Results: Among 1,018 total cases, 287 were classified as NIHL, 331 as normal, and 420 as other diagnoses. Gender distribution: 18.66% of all the cases are male with NIHL, and 9.53% of all the cases are females with NIHL. Mean age differed significantly across groups, being 46.40 ± 13.67 years in NIHL, 31.77 ± 12.52 years in normal cases, and 48.18 ± 21.86 years in other diagnoses (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The compiled dataset revealed NIHL is a considerable health burden in Sulaimani Governorate, with 28.1% of the sampled population affected. Gender prevalence as well as comparison to other causes was also presented, giving an understanding of the proportionality.