Screening for pre-school and school-age hearing problems: European Consensus Statement

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Abstract

Objectives

To formulate consensus statement and policies on structured hearing screening programs in pre-school and school-age children in Europe. This consensus will be brought before the European Union's Member States as a working and effective program with recommendations for adoption.

Methods

A distinguished panel of experts discussed hearing screening of pre-school and school-age children during the 10th Congress of European Federation of Audiology Societies (EFAS), held in Warsaw, Poland, on June 22, 2011. The panel included experts in audiology, otolaryngology, communication disorders, speech language pathology, education and biomedical engineering.

Results

Consensus was reached on thirteen points. Key elements of the consensus, as described herein, are: (1) defining the role of pre-school and school screening programs in the identification and treatment of hearing problems; (2) identifying the target population; (3) recognizing the need for a quality control system in screening programs.

Conclusions

The European Consensus Statement on Hearing Screening of Pre-school and School-age Children will encourage the appropriate authorities of the various countries involved to initiate hearing screening programs of pre-school and school-age children.

Section snippets

European Consensus Statement on Hearing Screening of Pre-school and School-age Children

  • 1.

    Effective programs of neonatal hearing screening (NHS) are well established in most European countries [1]. However not all childhood hearing loss can be identified at birth. As neonatal screening typically screens for permanent hearing loss, the majority of which is sensorineural and a minority of which is permanent conductive hearing loss.

  • 2.

    The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age and includes mainly conductive hearing loss, acquired and delayed sensorineural hearing loss and auditory

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