Draining Ears and Deafness Among Alaskan Eskimos

Abstract

Middle ear pathology in Alaska is a problem of considerable magnitude. Various studies^1-3 reported hearing loss in 14% of Caucasians and 34% of Eskimos and evidence of chronic otitis media in about one third of Alaskan natives. An infant morbidity and mortality study conducted by the Arctic Health Research Center in Eskimo villages revealed that of 323 infants, 38% had at least one episode of draining ears during their first year of life.⁴ To combat acute and chronic otitis media, routine medical and surgical treatment is dispensed within the limits of available personnel, and an aggressive tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy campaign is in progress.⁵ The present study was undertaken to investigate the natural history and epidemiology of ear disease and also the relationship between hearing loss and otitis media. Material and Methods The major portion of the study was conducted in the Bethel area in southwestern Alaska among