What is auditory screening?

A hearing screening is a very small portion of a full hearing test. Typically a person being screened will be hooked up to an audiometer. Then the screener will play tones (sounds) in your ears. The tones will be at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz. The screener will reduce the volume level of the tones until he/she finds the lowest level (softest volume) at which you can hear the tones. The goal of the screening is to see whether or not you fall into the normal range for hearing these tones. In other Words, can you hear the same soft sounds that others with normal hearing can hear? If the screening reveals that sounds have to be louder than normal in order for you to hear them you should make an appointment for a full hearing test. These can normally be had free of charge at most hearing aid dispensers. A couple notes about the screening. Some screenings are conducted with regular test equipment (clinical audiometers) others are tested with "screening" equipment. In other Words your screening may be a very generalized test. It can only indicate the general level of your hearing. Additionally, many screenings are conducted at "health fairs". The noise level at a typical health fair will always skew the results of the test. A screening by cheap equipment, from an in-experienced person, in a noisy room will typically show a potential loss where one may not exist. I have personally performed thousands of screenings at heath fairs with a clinical audiometer. I have learned that you have to "handicap" the results. If you suspect you (or your child) may have a hearing loss its best to have a full hearing test. If your child is making poor grades in school and you suspect a hearing loss, check this out immediately. While there may not be a medical condition that needs attention, their development is at risk. Even a small loss in hearing is critical when you are in your developing years and all through your school years.