Evaluation of Hearing Testing Program in New York City Elementary Schools

Abstract

A study of the hearing testing program in New York City elementary schools reviewed the health records of 51,415 pupils of 53 representative schools for the results of each child''s hearing test. In the same schools, independent screening tests for hearing acuity were administered by the research staff to a subsample of 7,129 pupils to formulate a procedure which would take into account 3 possible sources of error: (a) test environment, (b) test personnel, and (c) equipment maintenance. Comparison of the results of the school tests and the research tests on children receiving both showed agreement for 93% of the children. Of the 7% about whom there was disagreement, 4% were passed by school tests and failed by research tests, and 3% had the reverse results.