Question
What do you suggest for prekindergarten hearing screening? We presently do pure tone testing on all students, but also do tympanometry measures on all pre kindergarten students as well. We are wondering if this makes sense- should we be doing this additional testing on those who fail the pure tone only?
Answer
Regarding pre-kindergarten screening, I would recommend the following: A 4 point approach that includes (1) a brief history to consider family history of hearing loss, pre-natal and birth factors, newborn hearing status, ear infection/URIs, and speech-language milestones; (2)visual inspection of the ear (drainage, abnormal pinnae or other malformations), (3)acoustic immittance, and (4)pure tone screening. For children who are unable to participate in PT screening, automated OAEs are recommended. Proper follow-up is required to insure that children who are referred recieve the appropriate medical treatment and audiological assessment.
More detailed information can be obtained by downloading Early Childhood Hearing Screening Guidelines from my web page www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/specificdisability-hearing.htm Under douments and materials you will find the above mentioned document. You may also review the following chapter: Johnson, C.D. Hearing & Immittance Screening. In J. Katz (2002). Handbook of Clinical Audiology. pp 481-494.
Cheryl Deconde-Johnson, Ed.D., Colorado Department of Education, Denver, CO
