Disparities in Hearing Screening Practices in Minnesota Elementary Schools
Autefeh Sajjadi1,2, Elizabeth Kim1, Kathryn S Marcus3
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
The Laryngoscope
|April 28, 2026
Summary
Pediatric hearing screenings in Minnesota elementary schools lack standardization, with low adherence to guidelines across all school types. Charter and private schools showed higher compliance rates than public schools.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Public Health
- Educational Policy
Background:
- Early identification of pediatric hearing loss is crucial for child development.
- School-based hearing screenings are vital for timely detection.
- Current screening practices in Minnesota elementary schools require characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess current hearing screening practices in Minnesota public, charter, and private elementary schools.
- To evaluate compliance with American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and June 2023.
- Surveys collected data on standardized hearing screening processes and guideline compliance.
- Data from 146 public, 43 charter, and 60 private schools were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in standardized screening rates were observed between school types (p < 0.001).
- Only 10.44% of schools followed AAA guidelines, and 4.82% followed MDH guidelines.
- Charter and private schools had higher odds of screening per guidelines compared to public schools.
Conclusions:
- Minnesota elementary schools exhibit a lack of standardization in hearing screening.
- Adherence to AAA and MDH screening recommendations is low across all school types.
- There is a clear opportunity to improve school-based hearing screening practices.
