To characterize completion rates of pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and otoacoustic emission (OAE) screening among preschool children aged 2 to 5 years and identify factors associated with completion for each modality.
Approach:
Study Design: A prospective cohort study embedded within a randomized clinical trial comparing one-stage OAE with a two-stage protocol combining PTA and OAE.
Screening Methods: Children aged 2 to 5 years underwent both PTA and OAE screening, with completion rates recorded and analyzed.
Data Collection: Data on race, ethnicity, language proficiency, and teacher-reported concerns were collected to assess generalizability and factors influencing completion.
Key Findings:
OAE screening completion rates increased with age.
Combining PTA with OAE yielded higher completion rates than PTA alone, particularly in younger children.
OAE testing showed higher completion rates compared to PTA in preschool settings.
Interpretation:
Younger children may have lower PTA completion due to comprehension and cooperation challenges, while OAE does not require active participation, potentially improving completion rates.
Limitations:
The study was classified as an ad hoc secondary analysis and not specified in the trial protocol beforehand.
Language concordance effects on PTA completion were not directly evaluated.
Conclusion:
Identifying factors associated with screening completion can inform strategies to optimize hearing screening in diverse preschool populations.
