Socialization Program for Prevention and Early Detection of Congenital Hearing Loss in the Families of Deaf School children

Abstract

Objective: socializing hearing loss examination and early detection to patients and their families in deaf
type B schools. Methods: A community service program in the form of socialization was performed to the
family of patients with hearing loss in deaf school type B, Surabaya, Indonesia. Pretest and posttest were
conducted to determine the initial understanding and post socialization knowledge of these people. We also
asked the participants to fill on a questionnaire regarding the possible causes of the hearing loss (family
history, drug use, history of disease, and history of head trauma). Results: Based on the summary of pretest
and posttest from the participants, an increase in participants’ knowledge of hearing lost was found. This
activity was attended by 90 family members of 37 patients with hearing loss. Pre and post test results. The
results of the questionnaire showed that 94.59% of the patients came from Javanese ethnicity. As many as
21.62% of patients had a family history of hearing loss, and even 2 patients had a father, mother, and sibling
with hearing loss. A total of 18.92% had a history of using ototoxic drugs, 16.22% had a history of maternal
Rubella infection during pregnancy, and 2.7% had a history of head trauma. Conclusion: Socialization
program was effective to increase knowledge of congenital hearing loss for family of deaf schoolchildren.
The result of the questionnaire showed that deaf schoolchildren had several risk factors for the occurrence
of hearing loss. Similar program can be performed in communities in other areas to increase prevention and
early detection of hearing loss in Indonesia.