Screening measurements and procedures. Exemplified by an identification audiometry program.
To summarize, an effective procedure in audiometric screening may be using skilled testers to screen 1, 2, and 4 kHz at 20 dBHL (with oto immittance measures) on all students up to and including grade 3, 9th and 12th year high school students, and high-risk groups including those repeating a grade, having a history of recurrent middle ear disease, having speech and/or language problems, known to participate in high noise activities, for example, guns, dirt bikes, or model planes, and those failing previous screenings. Testing is done in a quiet, nondistracting environment, with each person tested individually, although instructions may be given to small groups. Any person not responding to one or more of the stimuli is rescreened. All failing the rescreening at any frequency in either ear are referred to an audiologist. Progress is monitored to ensure that the student is seen by an audiologist and that any audiological recommendations are followed. Screening procedures such as oto immittance measures and audiometric screening are effective identification procedures used in combination by skilled persons. When follow-up procedures are adequate, the program can work effectively in ensuring help for those with auditory problems. In addition, such programs can prevent many of these problems. The general principles of screening discussed earlier are applicable to identification of a wide variety of conditions including disordered speech, language, and hearing. Application of these principles will result in realization of identification objectives which are both pragmatic and quantifiable.