The preventive value of audiometric screening of preschool and young school-children
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2026
Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
I Augustsson1, C Nilson, I Engstrand
1Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Orebro Medical Center Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Routine audiometric screening for young children in Sweden showed limited preventive value. Early identification of secretory otitis media (SOM) did not significantly reduce long-term hearing issues or auditory deprivation sequelae in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Preventive Healthcare
Background:
- Hearing impairments in children can lead to long-term developmental issues.
- Early detection through screening aims to mitigate the effects of auditory deprivation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the preventive value of routine audiometric screening for 4- and 7-year-old children.
- To assess the long-term impact of identified hearing issues, particularly secretory otitis media (SOM).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 2,330 4-year-olds underwent audiometric screening.
- Children identified with SOM or sensorineural impairment received timely interventions.
- The same cohort was re-screened at age 7 to track hearing status and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Screening identified 27 cases of SOM in 4-year-olds, leading to myringotomy and grommets in 9.
- One child with unilateral sensorineural impairment received specialized educational support.
- At age 7, 6 children with prior SOM showed impaired hearing, 4 times more frequently than peers.
Conclusions:
- Current audiometric screening practices in Sweden appear to have minimal preventive effects on hearing impairments.
- The study questions the overall efficacy of this screening strategy in preventing long-term sequelae of auditory deprivation.
Abstract:
The routine to screen 4- and 7-year-old children with audiometry has been studied with regard to its preventive value. Out of 2,330 4-year-olds, 27 children with secretory otitis media (SOM) were treated with myringotomy and 9 of these with grommets as a consequence of identification by screening. One child with unilateral, sensorineural impairment received special teacher's assistance 2 h per week as a consequence of identification by screening. When the same children were screened at the age of 7, 6 children with SOM were treated with myringotomy after identification by screening audiometry. Children with SOM at the age of 4 had impaired hearing at the age of 7, identified by screening, 4 times more frequently than other children. The study suggests that audiometric screening in Sweden does not have important preventive effects on hearing impairments or on sequelae of auditory deprivation.
