Considerations in selecting and validating an adult/elderly hearing screening protocol

This article presents important factors related to hearing impairment, medical concerns related to hearing, hearing handicap, and epidemiological principles as considerations in selection of a protocol in adult/elderly hearing screening (18 yr and older). I encourage protocol validation which incorporates a series of criteria: medical conditions, rates of failure for handicap and impairment, handicap perspectives, hearing aid use and satisfaction, and follow-up data when referred. Three different pure-tone fence levels (20 dB, 25 dB, and 40 dB at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz) are proposed for further study by virtue of their utility for different settings and populations. Finally, a possible protocol is proposed for use with the different pure-tone fences.