Abstract: Objective To investigate the prevalence, etiology, rehabilitation demands and service condition of hearing disorders based on the whole population in Jilin Province, China. Methods Using the probability proportion to size (PPS) sampling, 9246 (93.3%) out of 9909 residents sampled form 36 counties were targeted for investigation from August, 2014 to January, 2015, followed the WHO Ear and Hearing Disorders Survey Protocol. The hearing loss and disability were classified as WHO recommended and Classification and Grading Criteria of Disability (GB/T 26341-2010). Results The standardized prevalence of hearing loss and disability was 16.41% and 4.78%, respectively. Age, sex, residence, occupation and marriage status, education level and household income were significantly associated with hearing loss prevalence, while nationality was not. The main etiologies included non-infectious disease (47.33%), ear disease (14.17%), unknown causation (13.89%), and noise (8.59%). Among all people with hearing loss, those who accepted intervention service accounted for 11.02%. Among all people with hearing disability, those who used hearing aids accounted for 5.58%, and 0.67% used artificial cochlea. Conclusion Demographics and socioeconomic factors are significantly associated with the prevalence of hearing loss. The main etiology contains non-infectious disease, ear disease and noise. Both the rate of service utilization among people with hearing loss and the rate of adopting hearing aids among people with hearing disability are low. It is needed to do more in prevention and rehabilitation of hearing impairment.

Key words: hearing disorders, prevalence, distribution, intervention service