Disparities in Hearing Screening Practices in Minnesota Elementary Schools.

Abstract

Identifying and addressing pediatric hearing loss is critical to supporting a child's development. School-based hearing screening is a mainstay of timely identification of hearing loss. The objectives of this study were to characterize the current hearing screening practices in public, charter, and private elementary schools in Minnesota. This was a cross-sectional survey with data collected between March and June 2023. Surveys assessed the presence of standardized hearing screening processes and compliance with American Academy of Audiology (AAA) or Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines. About 146 public schools, 43 charter schools, and 60 private schools met inclusion criteria and responded to the survey. There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of standardized screening between school types (χ² = 18.06; p < 0.001). Only 10.44% (n = 26) of schools completed hearing screenings per AAA guidelines, and even fewer, 4.82% (n = 12), completed hearing screenings according to MDH guidelines. The odds of screening per AAA or MDH guidelines were 3.50 times higher in charter schools compared to public schools (95% CI: 1.14, 10.73) and 4.61 times higher in private schools compared to public schools (95% CI: 1.73, 12.26). There is a lack of standardization in hearing screening processes in Minnesota elementary schools. Adherence to screening per AAA or MDH recommendations is low in all types of elementary schools. Charter and private schools were more likely than public schools to screen per AAA or MDH guidelines. Overall, our data demonstrate an opportunity for improvement in school-based hearing screening. N/A.