title: Pilot study of a high-frequency school-based hearing screen to detect adolescent hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Like most of the United States, school-based hearing screening in Pennsylvania focuses on low-frequency, conductive hearing losses typical for young children, rather than the high-frequency, noise-induced hearing loss more prevalent among adolescents. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of current school hearing screening in Pennsylvania with hearing screening including high frequencies, designed to detect adolescent hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single public high school.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the Autumn of 2011 the high-frequency screen was delivered alongside the Pennsylvania school screen for students in the 11(th) grade. Screening referrals and a subset of passes returned for "gold standard" testing with audiology in a sound treated booth, in order to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 282 participants, five (2%) were referred on the Pennsylvania school screen, and 85 (30%) were referred on the high-frequency screen. Of the 48 who returned for gold standard testing with audiology, hearing loss was diagnosed in 9/48 (19%). Sensitivity of the Pennsylvania and high-frequency screens were 13% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0-53%) and 100% (95% CI 66-100%) respectively. Specificity of the Pennsylvania and high-frequency screens were 97% (95% CI 87-100%) and 49% (95% CI 32-65%) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current school hearing screens have low sensitivity for detection of adolescent hearing loss. Modifying school-based protocols may be warranted to best screen adolescents, and make optimal use of school nurse time and effort.
authors: Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA.
authors: Deepa L
authors: DL
authors: Sekhar
authors: Thomas R
authors: TR
authors: Zalewski
authors: Soha N
authors: SN
authors: Ghossaini
authors: Tonya S
authors: TS
authors: King
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Rhoades
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: Czarnecki
authors: Shannon
authors: S
authors: Grounds
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Deese
authors: Ashley L
authors: AL
authors: Barr
authors: Ian M
authors: IM
authors: Paul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001298:Audiology / Q000379:methods; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000175:diagnosis; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools
keywords: adolescent health; hearing loss; screening