<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Hearing impairment is a common disability in children. This study is to evaluate the common high risk factors for hearing loss in our locality and to estimate hearing threshold by brain stem evoked response audiometry.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> 100 children under five years were subjected to brainstem evoked response audiometry. Wave V morphology was studied and hearing threshold estimated. The high risk factor(s) were analysed and degree of hearing impairment assessed.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> 38 children were found to have hearing impairment. Most of the children had bilateral hearing impairment. Of them 30 children (79%) had profound hearing loss. Consanguineous marriage was the most common risk factor.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Since consanguinity is the most common risk factor, health education and genetic counselling will help to decrease the incidence of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic deafness. Improvement in immunization for rubella can decrease the hearing impairment due to these infections. Due to availability of medical facilities hearing impairment due to perinatal factors have decreased.</p>

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Hearing loss associated with the CSOM affects the patients’ communication with others and results in poor quality of life. Degree and type of hearing loss can be assessed by pure tone audiometry, which helps in predicting the status of tympanic membrane, ossicular chain, and inner ear and also helps in preoperative planning.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Patients with CSOM aged 10 years and above were included in the study. All patients underwent pure tone audiometry. With the help of air and bone conduction threshold, the degree and type of hearing loss in each ear was determined. The data collected was evaluated and results are reported as rates and proportions (%).  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Most of the ears (83%) had mild to moderate hearing loss. Average ABG observed was 31 dB. Maximum ABG observed was 55dB on right side and 50 dB on the left side. There was mixed hearing loss in 10.9% cases.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This study reinforces the idea of using preoperative pure tone audiometry, which not only helps in planning surgery but also helps in documenting the preoperative status of patients’ sensorineural hearing loss, if present.</p>