Sujet : Prévention des surdités et qualité de vie des enfants déficients auditifs suivis à Aldac-Cameroun

Abstract

This study examines the prevention of hearing loss and its influence on the quality of life of hearing-impaired children followed by the Association for the Fight against Hearing Impairment in Cameroon (ALDAC). It is situated within a national context characterized by the near absence of systematic neonatal hearing screening, despite the existence of national legal frameworks (Law No. 2010/002 and its 2018 implementing decree) and international commitments regarding the rights of children and persons with disabilities. The main objective is to assess how primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies influence the overall development, social integration, and well-being of deaf children. The research adopts a qualitative and descriptive approach, based on a field study conducted with six hearing-impaired children followed by ALDAC, accompanied by their parents. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with parents and analyzed using qualitative indicators of quality of life, including communication, schooling, social participation, and emotional well-being. The findings reveal that several interacting factors contribute to delayed diagnosis of hearing loss, including families’ economic vulnerability, sociocultural representations that stigmatize deafness as a curse, the lack of specialized facilities, insufficient equipment, and the absence of trained personnel. These constraints lead to late intervention, which compromises language development, academic achievement, social integration, and children’s self-esteem. Conversely, children who benefited from relatively early intervention, particularly through ALDAC initiatives such as screening, hearing aid fitting, speech therapy, and psychosocial support, demonstrate better communication skills, more stable school integration, and improved emotional adjustment. The study highlights the urgent need to establish systematic neonatal hearing screening, strengthen community awareness, train health and education professionals, and improve intersectoral coordination. In conclusion, this research demonstrates that hearing loss prevention is a key lever for sustainably improving the quality of life of hearing-impaired children and advocates for a comprehensive and inclusive approach adapted to the Cameroonian context.