A Screening Program for the Detection of Hearing Loss in Preschool Children

Abstract

Screening hearing clinics for pre-school children were conducted in health department locations. Trained technicians screened 5152 children, aged 2 to 7, for hearing loss using an individual sweep check test with a puretone audiometer. Children (63) were found to have a verified loss (a loss in one or both ears at 2 or more frequencies within the speech range). Medical and educational recommendations were made for 44 cases; 2 for further observation and 7 reported to have normal findings. The hearing clinics were an effective and relatively inexpensive technique , of discovering hearing impairment in the pre-school population.