Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 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
Comprehensive Preschool Screening in Upper Austria for Early Detection of Hearing Loss: Prevalence, Follow-Up, and
Veronika Moser1,2, Julia Szegedi1,2, Doris Detter-Biesl3
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kepler University Hospital, Krankenhausstraße 9, 4020 Linz, Austria.
Insights
Kindergarten hearing screenings detect early childhood hearing loss, with nearly a quarter of affected children receiving necessary treatment. This highlights the importance of early detection for timely intervention and better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Early Childhood Education
- Public Health Screening
Background:
- Children can develop hearing loss post-newborn screening.
- Annual hearing and speech-language pathology screenings are conducted in Upper Austrian kindergartens for 4-5 year olds since 2016.
- Abnormal results prompt recommendations for further evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effectiveness of kindergarten hearing screenings.
- To assess parental follow-up rates for recommended evaluations.
- To determine the outcomes of audiological and speech-language evaluations in young children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of kindergarten hearing screening data (2018-2025).
- Analysis of hearing and speech screening data (2022/2023).
- Prospective questionnaire survey of parents regarding follow-up and outcomes of abnormal hearing screenings.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of abnormal hearing screenings ranged from 5.89% to 8.17%.
- Abnormal grammar (18.68%) and articulation (68.28%) were noted in in-depth analyses.
- Approximately 70% of parents pursued recommended evaluations; middle ear effusion was the most common diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Kindergarten screenings facilitate early detection of hearing loss in children.
- Early detection enables timely evaluation and treatment, improving child health outcomes.
- Parental follow-up and specialist diagnosis confirm the value of these public health initiatives.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: Children with normal newborn hearing screening results can develop hearing loss from various causes during their first years of life. Since 2016, a hearing and speech-language pathology screening has been conducted annually in kindergartens in Upper Austria in children aged 4 to 5 years. If an abnormal result is found, further evaluation is recommended. Methods: Data from the kindergarten hearing screening from 2018 to 2025 and hearing and speech screening from 2022/2023 were retrospectively analyzed. In addition, a prospective questionnaire survey was conducted with the parents of children who had an abnormal hearing screening result in 2024/2025. The survey asked whether the parents followed the recommendation for further evaluation and what the outcome of that evaluation was. Results: From 2018 to 2025, between 14,975 (2024) and 17,101 (2020) children were screened annually. The prevalence of abnormal hearing screening results ranged from 5.89% (2020) to 8.17% (2022). Abnormal grammar and articulation were found in 18.68% and 68.28% of the in-depth analyzed screenings of 4-5-year-old children in 2022, respectively. A total of 209 questionnaires were evaluated in the prospective questionnaire study. Approximately 70% of the participating parents reported having their child undergo the recommended evaluation by an ORL specialist. According to the parents, the most frequent cause of hearing impairment was middle ear effusion or Eustachian tube dysfunction. No new cases of sensorineural hearing loss were diagnosed in this population of 209 children, according to the parents surveyed. Conclusions: Nationwide screening in kindergartens allows for the early detection of hearing loss in early childhood, enabling children to receive evaluation and treatment. This is supported by the fact that, according to their parents, almost a quarter of the children with abnormal hearing screening results received a diagnosis requiring treatment from an ORL specialist.
