DEAFNESS AND DEPRESSION

Late diagnosis, late intervention, inconsistent follow-ups, inadequate maintenance of hearing aids and not so good outcome is something nobody amongst service providers in the field of ENT, audiology and also psychiatry wishes to come across. The fact that many factors, ele- ments, people and physicians are involved in the equation of service provision and results / outcome, therefore, it is very difficult to predict or contemplate what one does will bring good results. The element of myth, physicians dealing with deafness rarely getting help from psy- chiatrists and psychologists. The age at diagnosis is one of the key element in this process. It marks the beginning of a long term process and is therefore considered a parameter of concern. With a view to determine seriously how we take the hearing problem. This study was conducted at Lahore Medical Dental College, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital. The objective was to find the mean age of diagnosis, type and amount of deafness, associated problems with emphasis on related psychiatric problems in particular the element of depression. In a total of 200 patients between the ages of 10 years and 80 years over a period of five years from Jan 2003 to Jan 2008 were evaluated and investigated. They represent the major ethnic group of central Pun- jab. Every patient underwent a detailed clinical examination, any depressive or psychiatric symptoms and relevant audiological investigations. The cause of hearing loss could be found in 82% cases. Main causes were infections (31%), trauma (19%), presbyacusis (8%) and genetic (5%). The cause of hearing loss could not be established in 18% cases. It was higher in males (58%) than females but noticeably higher in uneducated muslim patients. Late diagnosis was also related to financial background, family size and accessibility to the health facility. In con- clusion the findings of the study are a cause for concern because the element of psychiatric disturbances was very high (60%) and it raises the questions about the importance the patients with hearing problems. It is also to be pointful out that and how little importance clinicians give to associated psychiatric disturbance, in particular depressive episodes.