Screening for Hearing Loss in Adolescents

Abstract

Three-hundred-forty-two adolescents between the ages of 10–20 years were administered an auditory screening protocol consisting of a: (a) noise history questionnaire, (b) otoscopic inspection, (c) tympanometry, and (d) pure-tone screening at 25 dB HL at 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. Results of this screening protocol suggest a high level of admitted noise exposure in the adolescent population. Overall failure rate was 25%. Pure-tone failure rate was 7% for the frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, increasing to 17% when 6000 Hz was added. Significant correlations were found between firearm use and hearing loss at 6000 Hz. Recommendations for screening the adolescent population are made, and suggestions for educational intervention on the effects of firearm usage are provided.