EAR-NOSE-THROAT PATHOLOGIES AND INCIDENCE IN SUBJECTS WHO APPLY TO HEALTH COUNCIL FOR DETECTION OF DISABILITY AND OTHER CAUSES: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Material and Methods: In our study, subjects who applied to health council of Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital during 13 months between 1 January 2009 and 1 February 2010 were analysed retrospectively. Pathologies were evaluated between applications for disability detection and other causes.

Results: Medical records of a total of 10638 cases were analysed. ENT pathologies were detected in a total of 1439 (13,5%) cases. A total of 1616 (15,2%) different ENT pathologies were detected in 1439 cases as more than one ENT pathologies could be present in the same subject. The most common pathologies were hearing loss n=961 (9,03%), speech pathology n=321 (3%) and chronic otitis media n=159 (1,5%). The other pathologies were absence of eyeball n=42 (0,39%), thyroid pathologies n=33 (0,31%), tracheotomy n=32 (0,3%), laryngectomy n=26 (0,24%) and the pathologies gathered in rare pathologies group n=38 (0,34%).

Conclusion: No studies were available in literature about ENT pathologies of the subjects who applied to health council in Turkey. This study puts forward that ENT pathologies are frequently seen in cases who apply to health council. Data obtained from these commissions that disabled frequently apply may be beneficial for both predicting the frequency of ENT pathologies in the community and regulations for the disabled. Keywords : Health Councils, Disability Evaluation, Hearing Loss, Speech-Language Pathology