Prevalence of ear and hearing-related disorders among school children in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To systematically synthesise epidemiological evidence on the prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss and ear-related disorders among school-aged children in India, and to analyse the socio-demographic factors influencing their distribution.
Systematic review and meta-analysis conducted according to PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42025644927). An in-depth search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (2015–2024) was performed.
Children aged 5–15 years from hospitals, communities, and educational institutions across both rural and urban regions of India.
The combined prevalence of hearing loss among Indian school-aged children was estimated at 14.14% (95% CI: 12.22%–16.31%), with substantial heterogeneity observed (I2 = 91.8%). Conductive hearing loss was the most common type, mainly associated with preventable and treatable conditions such as otitis media and cerumen impaction. Higher prevalence rates were noted in rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Diagnostic modality had a significant impact on prevalence estimates, with pure-tone audiometry yielding more conservative figures compared to screening tools.
Hearing loss and ear-related disorders are common and largely preventable among Indian schoolchildren. There is a time-sensitive need for standardised screening protocols, early interventions, and targeted public health strategies to mitigate the burden among the underserved population.