THE DISTRIBUTION OF EAR, NOSE, THROAT DISEASES IN DISABILITY BOARD REPORTS AND THEIR PLACE IN TOTAL DISABILITY RATES

Materials and methods: The demographic characteristics, examination findings, otorhinolaryngologic disability rates, total disability rates, and the degree of hearing loss of patients who applied to the otolaryngology department of Gülhane Training and Research Hospital to receive DBR due to various health problems between November 1, 2016 - April 30, 2018 were retrospectively scanned from hospital automation system.

Findings: A total of 4195 patients applied to receive DBR during the 18-month period in which the study data were obtained. The admission to otolaryngology department was noted in the reports of 582 patients (13,87%). Of these, 374 patients were male (64,26%), 208 were female (35,73%), and the mean age was 42,31 ± 26,70. The mean disability rate due to otorhinolaryngologic diseases was 27,13%. The place of otorhinolaryngologic diseases within all diseases was 40,26%. The pathologies that constitute the otorhinolaryngologic disability rates were hearing loss in 487 patients, speech disorders in 105 patients, middle ear/tympanic membran pathologies in 75 patients, airway problems in 16 patients, swallowing disorders in 13 patients, auricula/external ear pathologies in 10 patients, and other pathologies in 19 patients. In 487 patients with hearing loss, 385 had sensorineural (79,1%), 55 had conductive (11,3%) and 47 had mixed hearing loss (9,6%). 54 patients (9,27%) who applied to the otolaryngology department were not eligible for any disability rate.

Conclusion: Otorhinolaryngologic pathologies have an important place within the diseases that can make up disability rate in the disability board reports. Further studies are needed to set up disability regulations, to correct deficiencies and to improve the life conditions of disabled people. Keywords : Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Disabled Persons, epidemiology