TY  - JOUR
T1  - HEaring screening at well-child visits
AU  - Halloran DR, Wall TC, Evans H, Hardin J, Woolley AL
Y1  - 2005/10/01
N1  - 10.1001/archpedi.159.10.949
JO  - Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
SP  - 949
EP  - 955
VL  - 159
IS  - 10
N2  - Objectives 
    To determine hearing screening failure rates in primary care settings and to examine the referral practices in response to an abnormal screening test.Methods 
    We enrolled a convenience sample of children between 3 and 19 years of age who were undergoing hearing screening during a well-child visit. A failure was defined as missing any frequency (1000, 2000, or 4000 Hz) in either ear at 20-dB hearing level. The pediatrician made the decision of whether to refer the patient for further evaluation.Results 
    Three academic and 5 private practices enrolled 1061 children. Sixty-seven children (7%) were unable to complete the screening. Of the 948 children who completed the screen, a total of 852 children (90%) passed the screening and 96 children (10%) failed. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, the only statistically significant factor predictive of a failed screen was developmental delay (P = .02). Of the 96 children who failed the hearing screening, 57 (59%) had no further evaluation, 12 (13%) were rechecked, and 27 (28%) were referred. Similar percentages were seen with children who could not be screened.Conclusions 
    Although 10% of the children failed hearing screening, pediatricians neither rechecked nor referred more than half of these children. Screening that does not result in action for those failing the screening wastes resources and fails to properly identify hearing impairment in children.
SN  - 1072-4710
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archpedi.159.10.949
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.159.10.949
ER  -