Immittance screening for aural problems in school children.

The predominant aural health problem in school-age children is middle ear inflammation with effusion. The conventional hearing screening method has ineffectively detected half of those school children with middle ear problems. Acoustic immittance measurements, recently added to the audiologist's battery of tests, effectively and economically screens middle ear effusion. Unfortunately, acoustic immittance does not screen hearing sensitivity as does the conventional pure-tone sweep check. This article describes the principles of acoustic immittance and compares it with pure-tone audiometry; discusses current immittance screening practices; and outlines how acoustic immittance can be included in a school hearing conservation program.