Considerations in screening adults/older persons for handicapping hearing impairments

Given the present state of the "science," that is, the dearth of data on the "ideal" hearing screening protocol for noninstitutionalized adults and older adults, a definitive recommendation for screening is premature. The controversy and intensity of debate surrounding these issues attests both to the importance of a screening protocol and the acknowledgment of the need for further study by the profession. The ensuing intellectual controversy is not capricious nor whimsical but healthy. The committee has therefore chosen to discuss the issues surrounding selection of a screening protocol and to provide the reader with a series of options for screening. Armed with knowledge of the goal of a particular screening program, it is hoped that clinicians will make educated choices about the screening protocol that best meets their clients' needs. It is also our hope that this report will temporarily assist screening discussions until more comprehensive studies on the reliability, validity and predictive accuracy of selected protocols are available.