Background: Hearing loss can be categorized as a conductive, sensorineural, or mixed hearing loss based on the anatomic location of the problem. A hearing loss may also be considered unilateral or bilateral. Dizziness and vertigo are common clinical complaints. A disturbed vestibular system causes vertigo.
Aim and objectives: Study the profile of patients based on various variables and compare retrospective and prospective profiles of patients attending the Audiovestibular unit at Al-Hussin University Hospital.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 1868 subjects who attended the Unit of Audiovestibular Medicine at Al-Hussin University Hospital from 1/7/2016 to31/12/2016, then from1/1/2017 to 30/6/2017. The purpose was to determine the hearing and vestibular conditions for these subjects. The study was divided into two parts retrospective and prospective parts.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between different HL types among different age groups, with the adults and subjects above 60 years have a higher hearing impairment. In this study, the highest incidence of vestibular disorders is found in adult group (16.2%) cases followed by the old age group (10.8%) cases then preschool and child group (1.2%) cases.
Conclusion: The frequent causes of hearing impairment were presbycusis, noise exposure, wax, and otitis media. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) was the commonest cause of vertigo in this study. The adult and old age groups had the highest incidence of hearing impairment and vertigo in this study.