The preventive value of audiometric screening of preschool and young school-children.
The routine to screen 4- and 7-year-old children with audiometry has been studied with regard to its preventive value. Out of 2,330 4-year-olds, 27 children with secretory otitis media (SOM) were treated with myringotomy and 9 of these with grommets as a consequence of identification by screening. One child with unilateral, sensorineural impairment received special teacher's assistance 2 h per week as a consequence of identification by screening. When the same children were screened at the age of 7, 6 children with SOM were treated with myringotomy after identification by screening audiometry. Children with SOM at the age of 4 had impaired hearing at the age of 7, identified by screening, 4 times more frequently than other children. The study suggests that audiometric screening in Sweden does not have important preventive effects on hearing impairments or on sequelae of auditory deprivation.
Augustsson
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Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Orebro Medical Center Hospital, Sweden.
Nilson
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Engstrand
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D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000367:Age Factors; D001299:Audiometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000601:surgery