Prevalence of Hearing Loss Among Adults in Ulaanbaatar Assessed by Tablet-Based Hearing Screening
- VernacularTitle:Таблет суурьтай сонсголын шинжилгээгээр Улаанбаатар хотын насанд хүрэгчдийн дунд сонсгол бууралтын тархалтыг судалсан дүн
- Author:
Baigalmaa O
1
;
Byambasuren L
1
;
Junghwa B
2
;
Batzorig B
3
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, First Central Hospital of Mongolia, Mongolia
2. Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Hallym University of Graduate Studies, South Korea
3. School oPublic Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Mongolia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Adults;
Hearing loss;
Prevalence;
Screening-detected hearing loss;
Tablet-based hearing screening;
Ulaanbaatar
- From:Mongolian Medical Sciences
2026;215(1):9-19
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Introduction:Hearing loss adversely impacts communication, cognitive function, and quality of life, yet
early detection among adults remains inadequate. Despite the availability of portable, cost
effective tablet-based audiometric screening tools, national-level prevalence data on adult
hearing loss in Mongolia are scarce, and no large-scale screening studies in primary health
care settings have been conducted to date.
Goal:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of screen-detected hearing loss among adults
in Ulaanbaatar, evaluate its association with age and test frequency, and identify associated
factors.
Material and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted at primary health care clinics across nine districts
of Ulaanbaatar (2024–2025), enrolling 2,335 adults (≥18 years). Hearing screening was
performed using the MAICO easyTone device with DD65 v2A headphones at 500–6000 Hz
(30 dB HL at 500 Hz; 20 dB HL at remaining frequencies), with ambient noise monitored per
ANSI S3.1-2008. Each ear was classified as Pass or Refer at each frequency. Outcomes
included screen-detected hearing loss (SD-HL), speech-frequency hearing loss (SD
SFHL, 500–2000 Hz), and high-frequency hearing loss (SD-HFHL, 4000–6000 Hz), each
categorized as bilateral or unilateral. Associated factors were assessed by univariable and
multivariable logistic regression.
Results:SD-HL was identified in 37.2% of participants (bilateral: 31.5%; unilateral: 5.7%), SD-SFHL
in 30.6%, and SD-HFHL in 36.3%. Prevalence increased markedly with age, from 29.9%
(40–49 years) to 96.6% (≥70 years) (p<0.001). On multivariable logistic regression, male
sex was inversely associated with a positive screening result (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.42–0.99,
p=0.049).
Conclusion:The findings of this study confirm that the MAICO easyTone tablet-based
hearing screening device is a feasible and appropriate tool for the early detection of hearing
loss among adults in routine primary health care settings in Ulaanbaatar. The high prevalence
of screening-detected hearing loss underscores the urgent need to establish adult hearing
screening programs in Mongolia. Future studies should include standard audiometric
confirmation in participants with positive screening results to determine the diagnostic validity
of this hearing screening approach.
- Full text:2026070408314129359MAUS-2026-215(1)-9-19.pdf
