Feasibility of Stepwise Technology-Based Audiometry With Rapid Results (STARR) Protocol in Minnesota Elementary
Autefeh Sajjadi1, Morgan McBride2, Kimberly Guettler3
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Objective:
This study aims to understand the utility of a stepwise technology-based audiometry with rapid results (STARR) school screening protocol.
Study Design:
A prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Six elementary schools in a single school district in Minnesota.
Methods:
Students at 6 elementary schools in Minnesota participated in the STARR protocol and underwent initial technology-based hearing screening, followed by additional comprehensive automated audiometry with insert earphones and point-of-care otoscopy if they were referred. Results were reviewed by an otolaryngologist remotely, and parents received treatment recommendations based on these findings.
Results:
A total of 454 (81% of eligible) students were screened and 27 students (5.9%) referred. On average, the initial screening took 55 seconds (standard deviation [SD] = 22) for those who passed and 116 seconds (SD = 55) for those who were referred. Comprehensive audiometry screening took 163 seconds (SD = 27) for those who passed and 252 seconds (SD = 100) for those who referred. A team of 6 screeners could screen a class of 30 students in 30 minutes. The total number of nursing encounters required to ensure a student saw a provider after a referral was reduced using the STARR protocol (2.47 encounters per referral) compared to traditional audiometric screening (3.39 encounters per referral) (P < .01).
Conclusion:
The STARR protocol is a feasible and efficient method of screening in public schools that can reduce false referral rate, provide parents with more information at the point of referral, and reduce nursing burden.
Implications For Practice:
Technology-based hearing screenings should be considered in school settings as a means to provide more patient and family-centered hearing health care. Further research is necessary to understand how the STARR protocol influences loss to follow-up rates after failed hearing screening.
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