Hearing Assessment in Infants and Children: Recommendations Beyond Neonatal Screening
Pediatrics
Harlor, A., Bower, C., et al. (2009).
Pediatrics, 124(4), 1252-1263.
This guideline provides recommendations for the early identification of hearing loss in young children. The target audience of this guideline is pediatricians; however, many key recommendations are applicable for audiologists serving this population.
American Academy of Pediatrics
<div>Refer to an otorhinolaryngologist or a pediatric audiologist when a child demonstrates developmental issues preventing accurate results on routine audiometric screening or testing.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In the case of failed or atypical screening or test results:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The child should be referred to an audiologist for definitive testing;</li>
<li>Clinically appropriate referrals should be made, including otolaryngology, audiology, speech-language pathology, genetics, and early intervention; and</li>
<li>Intervention is required.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Ongoing preventive health care should include a periodic objective hearing screening of all children at the following ages:
<ul>
<li>Newborn;</li>
<li>Early childhood 4 years and 5 years; and</li>
<li>School-aged: 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18 years of age.</li>
</ul>
Additional hearing screening or assessment should be considered in instances of:
<ul>
<li>Identified risk factors. Children should have "ongoing developmentally appropriate hearing screening and at least one diagnostic audiology assessment by 24-30 months of age" (p. 1252); and</li>
<li>Parental concern about hearing loss. An objective hearing screening should be performed.</li>
</ul>
