Quantitative and qualitative follow-up outcomes from a preschool audiologic screening program: perspectives over a decade.

PURPOSE This investigation reports on quantitative and qualitative follow-up information obtained from a preschool audiologic screening program covering a 10-year period (1995 to 2004). METHOD The audiologic screening consisted of a hearing (pure tone) and tympanometry screening. A total of 34,979 children, 3 to 5 years of age, were screened. RESULTS Eighteen percent (6,337) of the children were referred for further hearing and/or medical ear evaluation. Of 1,421 follow-up responses received, 93% complied with the follow-up recommendations while 7% did not. Of 1,316 children in the follow-up group, outer and/or middle ear disorder in one or both ears was medically confirmed for 37%. Unilateral or bilateral hearing loss was diagnosed in 18% as conductive (12%), sensorineural (1%), mixed (0.4%), or unspecified (5%). Overall, hearing loss and/or otologic disorder was confirmed in 49% of the follow-up group, suggesting a prevalence of 1.8% in a preschool-age population. A small (n = 32) sample of unsolicited comments indicated that physicians most influenced noncompliance with hearing evaluation follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The quantitative hearing and otologic follow-up outcome data affirm the importance of audiologic screening in the preschool population. Qualitative data suggest that some physicians may not be advocating appropriate screening follow-up services.