What You Need to Know About School Hearing Screenings

34 states have mandated school hearing screenings, but how much do you know about these screenings? Why do they do them? What exactly are they testing? How accurate is it? What should parents expect to come out of it?

In a study about public school screening accuracy done by the American Journal of Audiology, the data averaged a 48% false-positive referral rate. 36 of the 75 students referred to an audiologist for further testing did not have hearing loss. [2] These school hearing screenings may not be as accurate due to a few reasons including an unideal environment for hearing testing or the child having an illness that day that effects testing.

Another study conducted at Penn State University, found that school screenings also may not detect high-frequency hearing losses. [1] This is usually seen in adolescents or older students and is caused by exposure to excessive noise. 

Even with the possibility of a false-positive, hearing tests are a “simple, painless first line of defense that we can use to catch so many kids with hearing loss we wouldn’t have caught otherwise,” says Dr. Carrie Meyer. It is extremely important to identify hearing loss early so that it can be treated before it gets worse.

Good hearing is a vital component to your overall health, especially for children. According to Dr. Carrie Meyer, “Even the mildest of hearing loss will result in difficulty in school and speech development.” This may result in the child falling behind their peers.

Help your child prepare for the hearing screening by talking to them about what to expect during the hearing test. Make sure to discuss with them the importance of paying attention to the examiner and ‘remind them that this is a fun test, like a game, no needles or shots,’ says Dr. Meyer.  This is also a great opportunity to teach them regular habits to protect their hearing, like turning down the volume, wearing ear protection, and taking listening breaks.