Screening

Hearing Impairment

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
1996

Recommendation

Screening for older adults for hearing impairment is recommended through:

• Periodically questioning them about their hearing.
• Counseling them about the availability of hearing aid devices.
• Making referrals for abnormalities when appropriate.

There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routinely screening asymptomatic adolescents and working-age adults for hearing impairment. Recommendations against such screening, except for those exposed to excessive occupational noise levels, may be made on other grounds.

Routine hearing screening of asymptomatic children beyond age 3 years is not recommended.

There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening of asymptomatic neonates for hearing impairment using evoked otoacoustic emission testing or auditory brainstem response. Recommendations to screen high-risk infants may be made on other grounds.

Clinicians examining infants and young children should remain alert for symptoms or signs of hearing impairment.

Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd Edition
Screening for Hearing Impairment, 1996 (PDF File, 138 KB)

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