Hearing Screening

The purpose of a hearing screening is to provide a quick assessment of individuals who are at risk for hearing loss or those who are in need of more in-depth evaluation, or both. A screening measure differs from diagnostic testing in terms of the length of time required to conduct the testing, the training of the personnel allowed to conduct the screening, and the type and depth of the information obtained. Screenings are designed to be efficient (allowing the possibility of rapid testing on a large scale) and can be conducted by trained, professional or nonprofessional personnel.

Hearing screening procedures vary and are specific to the group being tested. One logical way to understand hearing screenings is by age. Infants and young children require different testing ...