Background: Hearing loss is a common problem affecting private and social life of the involved individuals. Prevalence and type of hearing loss vary in different communities. This study was conducted to identify the frequency of hearing loss and its related factors on patients referred to audiometry clinic of Kashan University Matini hospital in 2006.

Materials and Methods: In a cross sectional study from November 2005 to April 2006, 462 patients referred to the audiometry clinic were enrolled to the study. The causative mechanisms of hearing loss, with a decrease of more than 10db, were considered in 3 main categories of conductive, neuro-sensory, and mixed types on the base of audiogram charts. The data were analyzed with c² and fisher exact tests.

Results: Of 462 patients, 203 (43.9 %) had hearing loss, 53.7% of whom were male. Mean age was 33.4±19.5. Neuro-sensory hearing loss was the most common type (41.9%), followed by conductive hearing loss (38.9%) and mixed hearing loss (19.2%). The rates of bilateral and unilateral hearing loss were 65%, and 35%, respectively. Most cases had moderate (40-60 db) hearing loss. Among different factors causing hearing loss, otitis media was the most common (34%).

Conclusion: hearing loss is highly prevalent. neuro-sensory loss was the most common type and otitis media the most common cause. These factors are totally treatable, so more attention should be paid to their proper treat.