Sensitivity and Specificity of Portable Hearing Screening in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

• Main Authors: Carolina Louise Cardoso, Ângelo José Gonçalves Bós, Andréa Krüger Gonçalves, Maira Rozenfeld Olchik, Leticia Sousa Flores, Bruna Macagnin Seimetz, Magda Aline Bauer, Patricia Pérez Coradini, Adriane Ribeiro Teixeira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. 2014-01-01
• Series: International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
• Subjects: hearing; mass screening; audiology; older adult; gerontology
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0033-1358660

Abstract Introduction Hearing screening allows the identification of individuals with hearing loss. Aim To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a portable hearing screening device in middle-aged and older adults using the manufacturer scoring and a scoring system proposed by the researchers. Methods In this transversal study, participants underwent anamnesis, otoscopy, and hearing screening using portable equipment. After this, a pure tone audiometry was performed, with participants classified into two groups: with and without hearing loss. The sensitivity and specificity of the hearing screening were calculated for the right and left ears using two methods of interpretation: the original method recommended by the manufacturer (criteria 1) and the method proposed by researchers (criteria 2). Results The sample consisted of 55 individuals, 83.6% (n = 46) of whom were women. Per criteria 1, the sensitivities were 26.3 (right ear) and 21.4% (left ear). The specificity was 100% for both ears. Using criteria 2, the sensitivity was 94.7 (right ear) and 100% (left ear). The specificity was 74.3 (right ear) and 65.9% (left ear). Conclusion This study showed that the criteria proposed by the manufacturer presented low sensitivity in the hearing screening. The criteria proposed by the researchers to achieve a more efficient performance reached high and balanced values for sensitivity and specificity.