TY - JOUR
T1 - Pilot study of a high-frequency school-based hearing screen to detect adolescent hearing loss
AU - Sekhar, Deepa
AU - Zalewski, Thomas R.
AU - Ghossaini, Soha N.
AU - King, Tonya
AU - Rhoades, Julie A.
AU - Czarnecki, Beth
AU - Grounds, Shannon
AU - Deese, Barry
AU - Barr, Ashley L.
AU - Paul, Ian
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was supported by a grant from the Academic Pediatric Association (APA)/Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Young Investigator Award. APA/MCHB did not have any role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.
PY - 2014/3
Y1 - 2014/3
N2 - Objective: Like most of the United States, school-based hearing screening in Pennsylvania focuses on low-frequency, conductive hearing losses typical for young children, rather than the high-frequency, noise-induced hearing loss more prevalent among adolescents. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of current school hearing screening in Pennsylvania with hearing screening including high frequencies, designed to detect adolescent hearing loss. Setting: A single public high school. Methods: In the Autumn of 2011 the high-frequency screen was delivered alongside the Pennsylvania school screen for students in the 11th grade. Screening referrals and a subset of passes returned for "gold standard" testing with audiology in a sound treated booth, in order to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tests. Results: Of 282 participants, five (2%) were referred on the Pennsylvania school screen, and 85 (30%) were referred on the high-frequency screen. Of the 48 who returned for gold standard testing with audiology, hearing loss was diagnosed in 9/48 (19%). Sensitivity of the Pennsylvania and high-frequency screens were 13% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0-53%) and 100% (95% CI 66-100%) respectively. Specificity of the Pennsylvania and high-frequency screens were 97% (95% CI 87-100%) and 49% (95% CI 32-65%) respectively. Conclusions: Current school hearing screens have low sensitivity for detection of adolescent hearing loss. Modifying schoolbased protocols may be warranted to best screen adolescents, and make optimal use of school nurse time and effort.
AB - Objective: Like most of the United States, school-based hearing screening in Pennsylvania focuses on low-frequency, conductive hearing losses typical for young children, rather than the high-frequency, noise-induced hearing loss more prevalent among adolescents. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of current school hearing screening in Pennsylvania with hearing screening including high frequencies, designed to detect adolescent hearing loss. Setting: A single public high school. Methods: In the Autumn of 2011 the high-frequency screen was delivered alongside the Pennsylvania school screen for students in the 11th grade. Screening referrals and a subset of passes returned for "gold standard" testing with audiology in a sound treated booth, in order to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tests. Results: Of 282 participants, five (2%) were referred on the Pennsylvania school screen, and 85 (30%) were referred on the high-frequency screen. Of the 48 who returned for gold standard testing with audiology, hearing loss was diagnosed in 9/48 (19%). Sensitivity of the Pennsylvania and high-frequency screens were 13% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0-53%) and 100% (95% CI 66-100%) respectively. Specificity of the Pennsylvania and high-frequency screens were 97% (95% CI 87-100%) and 49% (95% CI 32-65%) respectively. Conclusions: Current school hearing screens have low sensitivity for detection of adolescent hearing loss. Modifying schoolbased protocols may be warranted to best screen adolescents, and make optimal use of school nurse time and effort.
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U2 - 10.1177/0969141314524565
DO - 10.1177/0969141314524565
M3 - Article
C2 - 24523012
AN - SCOPUS:84901293464
SN - 0969-1413
VL - 21
SP - 18
EP - 23
JO - Journal of Medical Screening
JF - Journal of Medical Screening
IS - 1
ER -
