Study of a Hearing Screening Program in a University Center of São Paulo

Introduction: The hearing screening is essential for identification of possible hearing dysfunctions and referral to an accurate audiological diagnosis.

Objectives: To verify the index of fail of individuals taken care of in a hearing screening program in a University center in São Paulo and characterize the audiological profile of those who returned to the accomplishment of a complete audiologic evaluation after to fail in the screening.

Method: Retrospective study, with the survey of 257 charts from a health action open to the population, between 2010 and 2012. The collected data had been age, gender, screening data (pass/fail), and the data from the complete audiologic evaluations of those who failed.

Results: There was prevalence of the feminine public, with age range from 4 to 84 years old; 68.9% of the patients passed in the hearing screening. The biggest reason for fail was the hearing loss (85%). Those who failed from these, only 28.7%, returned for audiologic evaluation. Those who returned, 65.2%, presented normal hearing. In the others, predominated the sensorineural hearing loss (26.1%), mild degree (75%), descending and horizontal configuration (31.2%), normal speaks recognition (68.7%). The type A tympanometric curve was found in 80.4%, and the contralateral reflex was present in 58.7%.

Conclusion: The index of fail in the hearing screening was small ahead of the verified charts. It was characterized as audiological profile normal hearing, with descending and horizontal audiograms, good speak recognition, type A tympanometric curve and the acoustic reflex presence.

Keywords: Hearing loss, screening, diagnosis.