Browsing by Author "Fonseka, R."

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    Developing a tool to screen for disability among pre-school children: preliminary results
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2014) Perera, K.M.N.; Wijerathne, L.; Jayasinghe, C.; Kasturiratne, A.; Hettiarachchi, S.; Fonseka, R.; Jayasena, B.N.; Siriwardhena, D.; Godamunne, P.; Dahanayake, W.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.
    INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a tool that can be used by pre-school teachers to identify disabilities in the pre-school age group. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team was formed and the initial tool was developed^ Consensual validity was achieved by using nominal group technique and the tool was pre-tested in the Ragama MOH area. To assure criterion validity, the tool was used to screen all the children in the pre-school age group (2-5 years) in an MOH area randomly selected from the Anuradhapura District. The screened positives .were referred to an expert panel for confirmation of diagnosis and follow-up if required. RESULTS: Thousand nine hundred children were invited for screening and 1536 participated (478 2-3 years, 495 3-years, 560 > 4 years of age) and 267 (17.4%) were referred to the expert panel. Out of the referrals, majority (38.9%) had multiple disabilities. Hearing and speech difficulties were seen in (29.6%). Psycho social problems (11.6%), disabilities and other diseases (19.8%) accounted for the rest. The response rate for confirmation by experts was 64%. The predictive value of a positive test was 79.5%. The prevalence of disabilities among the screened pre-school age group was 88 per 1000 (95% Cl= 74 to 103). CONCLUSIONS: This tool can be used to screen children in the pre-school age for disabilities.
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    Noise Induced Hearing Loss and the Use of Personal Hearing Protection Devices among Liquefied Gas Cylinder Infusion Factory Workers in Biyagama Zone, Sri Lanka
    (Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, 2014) Perera, K.P.A.; Fonseka, R.; Siriwardana, C.
    The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and the use of Personal Hearing Protection Devices (PHPDs) among Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder infusion factory workers in Biyagama, Sri Lanka. 79 workers who were exposed to noise in the working environment volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected through screening audiological evaluations, diagnostic audiological evaluations, interviewer-administered case histories and a questionnaire. Four sound level meter measurements were taken in the open work area during a regular work shift and average noise exposure level in the worksite was calculated using those measurements. The mean age of the participants was 32.67 (SD=8.37) years. The mean work duration was 5.58(SD=4.62) years. The average noise exposure level in the worksite was 97.2dBA. 20.3% (n=79) of the workers had signs of NIHL. NIHL was associated with age (p=0.02) and the knowledge regarding the use of PHPDs as a prevention method was high (97.5%). Self-reported use of PHPDs was 69.6%. The major complaint of the non-users was discomfort. There was an association between work duration and PHPDs use (p=0.02). NIHL was associated with use of PHPDs (p=0.017). Despite having good knowledge of PHPDs, use of PHPDs was much less. Industrial authorities should institute hearing conservation programmes and should strictly monitor implementation of noise regulations.