Related Experiment Videos
[Hearing of small children. Satisfactory testing at health centers?]
1Grorud Helsesenter, Oslo.
Insights
Pediatric hearing screenings identified secretory otitis media in ten children and sensorineural hearing loss in one. Current methods may require improvement for early detection of hearing impairments in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Otoacoustic emissions
- Hearing screening protocols
Context:
- Screening 803 four-year-old children for hearing impairments.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of current audiometric screening procedures.
- Assessing the reliability of hearing tests for young children.
Purpose:
- To identify children with hearing deficits requiring intervention.
- To evaluate the adequacy of existing hearing screening protocols.
- To recommend improvements for early detection of hearing loss.
Summary:
- Audiometric screening of 803 four-year-olds detected ten cases of secretory otitis media and one of sensorineural hearing loss.
- Audiometer calibration and noise levels were within acceptable limits.
- Anamnestic information could be improved with direct questions about hearing disabilities at all ages.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for enhanced screening methods for early identification of hearing loss in children.
- Suggests a review of current hearing screening practices, particularly for infants.
- Emphasizes the importance of timely detection and intervention for childhood hearing impairments.
Abstract:
Of 803 four-year-old children tested, audiometric screening detected ten with secretory otitis media necessitating operation and one child with sensorineural loss of hearing. Control showed audiometer calibrations and noise levels during screening to be within acceptable limits. The anamnestic information ought to be improved by asking direct questions about hearing disabilities at all age levels as part of the screening procedure. The one child with sensorineural hearing loss should have been detected earlier. Perhaps we place too much trust in the methods used to test young childrens' hearing. It may be wise to look more closely into the methods and routines used to screen for hearing defects at one year of age.