Akademiliv

Sahlgrenska akademins nyheter

På Svenska
University of Gothenburg Logotype
  • News
  • Notices
  • Calendar
  • Grants
  • About Akademiliv

Hearing loss – a major obstacle for language learning among new arrivals

8 April, 2019

Nina Pauli

ALF POSITION. For those establishing themselves in a new country, learning the language has top priority, but hearing loss can throw a wrench in the works. Nina Pauli, ear-nose-throat doctor and researcher at the Institute of Clinical Sciences, recently received an ALF position, where she will investigate such aspects as how common hearing loss is among people born abroad.

The incidence of hearing loss and chronic ear infection is different in different parts of the world. In recent decades many people have emigrated from countries where access to health care and antibiotic treatment has not always been as good as in Sweden.

Today there is a lack of knowledge about the incidence of hearing loss among new arrivals in Sweden, but clearly many seem to have problems. We also know little about the underlying causes of their hearing loss. This interests Nina Pauli. She is a specialist in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and a researcher at the Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy.

“There is reason to believe that the incidence of hearing loss is higher among foreign-born persons and that the underlying causes of hearing loss may differ from the population at large, with a higher incidence of chronic ear infection and hearing loss resulting from exposure to high noise levels, for example,” says Pauli. She has now received an ALF position for the next two years, where she hopes to gain more in-depth knowledge of this problem area.

No hearing screening for adults

The number of new immigrants over age 18 has more than doubled in Gothenburg during the 2012–2017 period, increasing from about 2,000–3,000 per year to 6,000–11,000 per year.

In the Angered neighborhood of Gothenburg more than half of the approximately 53,000 residents are foreign-born.

Iraq, Somalia, Syria and the former Yugoslavia were the main countries of origin in that neighborhood in 2017.

Hearing screening currently is offered for individuals under 18 years of age who immigrate to Sweden, but no systematic investigation of hearing exists for adults.

“As its overall objective, the research will survey the incidence of hearing loss and chronic ear infection among newly arrived immigrants. This will make it possible to identify people who need to address hearing loss at an early stage.”

Illustration of hearing bones.

Language learning and integration

The study is a collaborative project among researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, the R&D Unit and the ENT clinic at Angered Hospital.

Patients will be asked to participate in the study in connection with Swedish for Immigrants lessons, among other things, says Pauli.

“By identifying patients with hearing loss early and offering treatment, we hope to facilitate language learning and integration.”

The study is a cross-sectional study of adults over age 18 who immigrated to Sweden in the past five years and settled in the Angered neighborhood of Gothenburg. About 800 people will be included, with the start of the study planned for 2019.

Hearing loss affects quality of life

Surgery with laser.

The ALF position also includes another project: Evaluation of Surgery to Improve Hearing in Otosclerosis. Otosclerosis is a disease that leads to bone formation around the ear’s small ossicles, which in turn produces progressive hearing loss.

It is one of the most common reasons for hearing loss, affecting about 0.3 percent of the population. The disease usually originates at a young age and often requires treatment when the individual reaches middle age.

“Untreated hearing loss has a pronounced impact on physical, cognitive, and social functioning. The significance of hearing loss on the patient’s quality of life is often underestimated,” says Pauli.

In her other project she wants to use data from the Swedish Quality Register for Otosclerosis Surgery to evaluate the results of surgery for otosclerosis.

What does having an ALF position for two years mean for you?

“It gives me the opportunity to focus on research in a completely different way compared to how research otherwise tends to be ‘sandwiched in’ with daily clinical patient work. Allowing doctors to set aside time for research is absolutely crucial for ensuring the quality of clinical research,” says Pauli.

TEXT: SUSANNE LJ WESTERGREN

More about ALF funds (in Swedish) at the new ALF website

By: Elin Lindström
Tagged With: Bidrag och stipendier, Bidrag och stipendier

Add your own events in the Akademiliv Calendar

No newsletter during the sports holiday – Wednesday, February 15

Information from Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office

[UPDATED JAN 24]
The Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office provides an overview of upcoming and current calls, nominations and events in an information letter. This letter is updated approximately four times per semester.

’20 minutes for researchers’ is back – see full spring program

During 20 minutes over Zoom, the Biomedical Library gives tips on tools and services that can facilitate your research everyday life.

We are building at Medicinareberget

You will now find comprehensive information on construction projects that affect the Sahlgrenska Academy in the Staff Portal.

Lunch menus

Café Anatomen
Menu not available on website.

Café Annedal
Menu not available on website.

Lunchen.nu

Lustgården på Änggårdsbacken
Take away for external guests between 11.00-12.30 weekdays.

Lyktan

Mersmak Mölndal

Mersmak Sahlgrenska

Mersmak Östra

Salt & Syra

More news

Nominations for Honorary Doctors 2023 is open

2 February, 2023

HONORARY DOCTOR. All staff at Sahlgrenska Academy may nominate honorary doctorates. The appointments are evidence of the faculty’s appreciation, a …  

Depression and low quality of life 30 years after chemical attack

27 January, 2023

NEW STUDY. Mustard gas harms the vision, skin and breathing. Three decades on, however, the predominant effect is mental ill-health. At a time …  

Testing a immunological drug as a new treatment for early type 1 diabetes

26 January, 2023

CLINICAL STUDY. A large clinical study is now beginning on an approved drug for treating psoriasis. The drug will be tested on patients who were …  

Emma Eckernäs: GU now surveying doctoral students’ work environment too

25 January, 2023

COLUMN. For the first time, the work environment survey (ARK) at the University of Gothenburg (GU) now contains a sub-survey aimed specifically …  

Nominate for the award “PhD Thesis of the Year”

24 January, 2023

AWARD. Do you know of a really good thesis that was defended last year? Until February 7, you can nominate for the Sahlgrenska Academy's PhD …  

New legislation for clinical trials of medicinal products

24 January, 2023

RESEARCH RESOURCES. New EU legislation for clinical trials of medicinal products will be phased in over the coming years. All new applications …  

Joining forces for research on asthma, allergy, and airways

24 January, 2023

RESEARCH CONDITIONS. "Breathe Sweden", a digital platform for researchers who collect studies on diseases and disorders of the respiratory tract, …  

Fewer surgically treated ankle fractures with a clear-cut treatment routine

24 January, 2023

DOCTORAL THESIS. It has been shown that the percentage of ankle fractures that undergo surgery could be substantially reduced, from more than 30 …  

In memory of Bo Lundbäck

23 January, 2023

COMMEMORATIVE REMARKS: On December 6, Professor Bo Lundbäck passed away at the age of 74 after a period of illness. He was a senior professor in …  

Hope of more donor hearts suitable for transplantation

23 January, 2023

MULTICENTER STUDY. Improved Heart is the first prospective multicenter study in the world where evaluation of organ donors’ cardiac function is g …  

More news...

Sahlgrenska Academy

© University of Gothenburg
PO-Box 100, S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Phone: 00 46 31 786 0000

About the website

Elin Lindström is editor for Akademiliv.
Please feel free to send your ideas and comments to akademiliv@gu.se

Sign up for the Akademiliv newsletter:

Send you tips to Akademiliv

Do you have a suggestion for news, grants, seminars or an education?
Send an email to Elin Lindström Claessen