Wenjin Wu1, Jingrong Lü1, Yun Li1, Anna Chi Shan Kam2, Michael Chi Fai Tong2, Zhiwu Huang3, Hao Wu4. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Institute of Human Communicative Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 3. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China. Electronic address: huangzw086@hotmail.com. 4. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China. Electronic address: ent@xinhua-ent.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the practical application of Smart Hearing, a new hearing screening system for preschool children. METHODS: The screening system was applied to 6288 preschool children. The system auto-tested hearing thresholds at three frequencies: 1kHz, 2kHz, and 4kHz; a 30dB hearing level (HL) was the critical intensity for passing. Children with positive results were referred for audiological evaluation (pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions assessment, etc.). To evaluate the test accuracy, 312 children (5%) were randomly selected to receive audiology assessment. RESULTS: In this study, 582 children (9.3%) tested positive in the screening, and the referral rate of the four age groups from 3 to 6 years old was 18.8%, 11.9%, 6.5% and 4.0%, respectively. A total of 463 children underwent audiological assessment, of which 12 cases (1.91‰; 95% CI: 0.83‰, 2.99‰) were diagnosed with permanent hearing loss, and 75 cases (1.19%; 95% CI: 0.92%, 1.46%) were diagnosed with temporary conductive hearing loss. No mixed hearing loss was found in this study. The specificity of the system was 92.6% and the sensitivity was only 37.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This screening system is suitable for the universal hearing screening of preschool children above 4 years old, and further improvements of the system are needed to increase its sensitivity.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the practical application of Smart Hearing, a new hearing screening system for preschool children. METHODS: The screening system was applied to 6288 preschool children. The system auto-tested hearing thresholds at three frequencies: 1kHz, 2kHz, and 4kHz; a 30dB hearing level (HL) was the critical intensity for passing. Children with positive results were referred for audiological evaluation (pure tone audiometry, tympanometry and distortion product otoacoustic emissions assessment, etc.). To evaluate the test accuracy, 312 children (5%) were randomly selected to receive audiology assessment. RESULTS: In this study, 582 children (9.3%) tested positive in the screening, and the referral rate of the four age groups from 3 to 6 years old was 18.8%, 11.9%, 6.5% and 4.0%, respectively. A total of 463 children underwent audiological assessment, of which 12 cases (1.91‰; 95% CI: 0.83‰, 2.99‰) were diagnosed with permanent hearing loss, and 75 cases (1.19%; 95% CI: 0.92%, 1.46%) were diagnosed with temporary conductive hearing loss. No mixed hearing loss was found in this study. The specificity of the system was 92.6% and the sensitivity was only 37.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This screening system is suitable for the universal hearing screening of preschool children above 4 years old, and further improvements of the system are needed to increase its sensitivity.
Authors: Obioha C Ukoumunne; Chris Hyde; Mara Ozolins; Zhivko Zhelev; Sam Errington; Rod S Taylor; Claire Benton; Joanne Moody; Laura Cocking; Julian Watson; Heather Fortnum Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-07-11 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: James E Saunders; Sarah Bessen; Isabelle Magro; Devin Cowan; Marvin Gonzalez Quiroz; Karen Mojica-Alvarez; Donoso Penalba; Catherine Reike; Christopher E Niemczak; Abigail Fellows; Jay C Buckey Journal: J Glob Health Date: 2022-08-09 Impact factor: 7.664