Rates of Hearing Screening Completion in Preschool Children
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By
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Lourdes Kaufman
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Jihyun Stephans
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Mimoh Lee
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Julianna B. Giammona
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Dylan K. Chan
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August 24, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Rates of Hearing Screening Completion in Preschool Children
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Hearing Loss Screening |
| Key Mechanisms | Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening modalities |
| Target Population | Children aged 2 to 5 years in preschool settings |
| Care Setting | Community-based preschool hearing screening programs |
Key Highlights
- Permanent hearing loss occurs in approximately 1.8 per 1000 newborns and 2.7 per 1000 children by age 5.
- Otitis media with effusion affects over 60% of children by age 2.
- 34% of children referred after newborn screening do not undergo diagnostic audiologic evaluation.
- OAE testing yields higher completion rates than PTA among preschool children.
- Language concordance may influence PTA completion rates.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Newborn hearing screening should be complemented with preschool screening to detect late-onset hearing loss.
Management
- Implement dual-modality protocols where feasible, but consider single-modality for large-scale programs.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor completion rates and factors affecting screening to optimize future programs.
Risks
- Failure to complete screening may lead to undetected hearing loss and delayed intervention.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Preschool-aged children, particularly those with speech, language, or hearing concerns.
Early detection through screening can improve speech and language outcomes.
Clinical Best Practices
- Utilize OAE for higher completion rates in preschool settings.
- Ensure language concordance between screener and child to enhance PTA completion.
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