| The present study compared the pass/refer results of traditional ASHA recommended hearing screenings to transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), and screening tympanometry among young students at a rural, medically underserved population at an elementary school. Sixty-seven students (31 boys and 36 girls) from kindergarten to 3rd grade participated in this study. Ten were Hispanic and had English as a second language. Each child had his/her hearing screened at 500 Hz and by the ASHA recommended method for pure tone screenings and by TEOAEs and DPOAEs. Tympanometry was also performed on 53 students. The results revealed that of the 67 children screened: 9% passed the ASHA recommend pure tone screening with the addition of 500 Hz, 58% passed the ASHA recommended pure tone audiometry, 53% passed tympanometry, 78% passed the TEOAE, and 87% passed the DPOAE screenings. Early identification of hearing impairment is crucial for academic success; therefore, the screening process must be increased sensitivity and specificity. As shown by this study, the inclusion of objective measures increased the sensitivity and specificity, and decreased the evaluation time per child. These results should encourage audiologists and school personnel to examine the substitution of objective screening tools for subjective screening tools in the future, or at the very least incorporate them into the screening protocol. |
