Deepa L Sekhar1, Thomas R Zalewski2, Jessica S Beiler3, Beth Czarnecki4, Ashley L Barr4, Tonya S King5, Ian M Paul6. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: dsekhar@hmc.psu.edu. 2. Department of Audiology, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. 3. Pediatric Clinical Research Office, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania. 4. Department of Audiology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania. 5. Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Abstract
PURPOSE: One in 6 US adolescents has high-frequency hearing loss, often related to hazardous noise. Yet, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) hearing screen (500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 Hertz) primarily includes low frequencies (<3,000 Hertz). Study objectives were to determine (1) sensitivity and specificity of the AAP hearing screen for adolescent hearing loss and (2) if adding high frequencies increases sensitivity, while repeat screening of initial referrals reduces false positive results (maintaining acceptable specificity). METHODS: Eleventh graders (n = 134) participated in hearing screening (2013-2014) including "gold-standard" sound-treated booth testing to calculate sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Of the 43 referrals, 27 (63%) had high-frequency hearing loss. AAP screen sensitivity and specificity were 58.1% (95% confidence interval 42.1%-73.0%) and 91.2% (95% confidence interval 83.4-96.1), respectively. Adding high frequencies (6,000, 8,000 Hertz) significantly increased sensitivity to 79.1% (64.0%-90.0%; p = .003). Specificity with repeat screening was 81.3% (71.8%-88.7%; p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent hearing screen sensitivity improves with high frequencies. Repeat testing maintains acceptable specificity.
PURPOSE: One in 6 US adolescents has high-frequency hearing loss, often related to hazardous noise. Yet, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) hearing screen (500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 Hertz) primarily includes low frequencies (<3,000 Hertz). Study objectives were to determine (1) sensitivity and specificity of the AAP hearing screen for adolescent hearing loss and (2) if adding high frequencies increases sensitivity, while repeat screening of initial referrals reduces false positive results (maintaining acceptable specificity). METHODS: Eleventh graders (n = 134) participated in hearing screening (2013-2014) including "gold-standard" sound-treated booth testing to calculate sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Of the 43 referrals, 27 (63%) had high-frequency hearing loss. AAP screen sensitivity and specificity were 58.1% (95% confidence interval 42.1%-73.0%) and 91.2% (95% confidence interval 83.4-96.1), respectively. Adding high frequencies (6,000, 8,000 Hertz) significantly increased sensitivity to 79.1% (64.0%-90.0%; p = .003). Specificity with repeat screening was 81.3% (71.8%-88.7%; p = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent hearing screen sensitivity improves with high frequencies. Repeat testing maintains acceptable specificity.
Authors: Deepa L Sekhar; Eric W Schaefer; James G Waxmonsky; Leslie R Walker-Harding; Krista L Pattison; Alissa Molinari; Perri Rosen; Jennifer L Kraschnewski Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2021-11-01
Authors: Delaney Gracy; Anupa Fabian; Corey Hannah Basch; Maria Scigliano; Sarah A MacLean; Rachel K MacKenzie; Irwin E Redlener Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-17 Impact factor: 3.240