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Using otoacoustic emissions to screen young children for hearing loss in primary care settings
Terry Foust1, William Eiserman, Lenore Shisler
1Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Insights
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening effectively identifies permanent hearing loss in young children within primary care settings. This objective method shows promise for early detection in diverse healthcare environments.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Public Health
Background:
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) technology is a validated, objective hearing screening tool.
- OAE screening is increasingly recognized as superior to subjective methods for young children.
- This study investigated OAE screening integration into routine healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of integrating Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) hearing screening into primary care settings.
- To assess the feasibility of using OAE technology for early identification of hearing loss in young children during routine health visits.
Main Methods:
- A 10-month study involving 846 children screened using distortion product OAE in federally funded clinics.
- A multistep protocol included middle ear evaluation and audiological assessment for non-passing children.
- Screening occurred during routine primary care visits for low-income and uninsured populations.
Main Results:
- 96% of screened children passed the OAE screening or subsequent audiological assessment.
- Three children (0.35%) were identified with permanent hearing loss.
- The identification rate of permanent hearing loss aligns with findings from educational settings.
Conclusions:
- OAE screening is a potentially effective method for identifying permanent hearing loss in young children within primary care.
- Integrating OAE screening into healthcare settings can improve early detection rates.
- Objective OAE measures offer a reliable approach to pediatric hearing assessment.
Objectives:
Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) technology, used widely in newborn hearing screening programs and validated by professional organizations as a reliable and objective tool, is beginning to be recognized as superior to subjective methods when screening young children in a variety of settings. This study examines the efficacy of integrating OAE hearing screening into services routinely provided in health care settings.
Methods:
Three federally funded clinics serving low-income and uninsured people in a metropolitan area participated in the 10-month study. Subjects included 846 children (842 in the target population <5 years of age and 4 older siblings) who were screened during routine visits to their primary care providers using a distortion product OAE instrument. A multistep screening and diagnostic protocol, incorporating middle ear evaluation and treatment, was followed when children did not pass the initial screening. Audiological evaluation was sought for children not passing a subsequent OAE screening.
Results:
Of the 846 children screened, 814 (96%) ultimately passed the screening or audiological assessment and 29 (3%) exited the study. Three children (1 was <5 years of age and 2 were >5) were identified with permanent hearing loss.
Conclusions:
The rate of identification of permanent hearing loss in this study is similar to findings from a study of OAE screening in early childhood educational settings. OAE screening holds the potential for being an effective method for helping to identify young children with permanent hearing loss in primary care settings.
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