Hearing loss characteristics and cerumen management efficacy in low-income South African communities: a cross-sectional study

AIM: To describe the prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss in a self-referred adult cohort in low-income South African communities and to evaluate the effectiveness of a cerumen management protocol within a community-based service setting. BACKGROUND: Hearing loss affects 1.5 billion people globally, with a disproportionate impact on individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the elderly, often attributed to age-related factors and cerumen impaction. Despite the high prevalence, access to ear and hearing care remains challenging, particularly in LMICs, such as Africa. METHODS: A total of 227 participants aged 43-102 were recruited from two community centres in low-income South African communities for hearing evaluation and cerumen management for those with cerumen impaction. A cross-sectional, predominantly quantitative approach was used. FINDINGS: Video otoscopy of 448 ears revealed normal findings in 57.9%, cerumen impaction in 29.1%, and other abnormalities in 1.3%. The prevalence of confirmed hearing loss was 97.8%, primarily mild (45.8%), and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was the most common (55.3%). Cerumen impaction accompanied hearing loss in 28.4% of cases. Post-treatment, 50.9% of participants with cerumen impaction showed normal otoscopy results, with mean hearing improvements of 16.2 dB (±17.9 SD) in the left ears and 15.8 dB (±17.2 SD) in the right ears, though overall significance was limited. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of hearing loss and cerumen impaction in low-income communities emphasizes the importance of ear care in primary healthcare (PHC) settings, especially for the elderly. Effective community-based cerumen management highlights the potential of integrating community resources and task-shifting strategies for cost-effective ear care in resource-limited settings.