Welch Allyn Audioscope 3 Portable Screening Audiometer - User Manual - Manual (Page 14)

Guidelines for Selection of Screening Level
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2. Katz, J. “Handbook of Clinical Audiology,” Williams & Wilkins, 1985
3. American Speech Language and Hearing Association, “Guidelines for Identification
Audiometry,” ASHA, May 1985
4. Dalzell, L.E., PhD, Puccia, Swirat, D., M.A., Dept. of Audiology and Speech Pathology,
Strong Memorial Hospital, “Hearing Loss, Hearing Handicap, and Hearing Aid Candidacy in
Geriatrics,” presented at ASHA, 1983
Weinstein, B. E., St. John’s University, “Validity of a Screening Protocol for Identifying
Elderly People with Hearing Problems,” ASHA, May 1986
20 DB HL
This is a typical screening level for the school-aged child.
Although 25 dB HL is regarded as the upper limit for normal
hearing
2 , one would expect the young child’s hearing acuity to
be better than that of the adult.
Therefore, American Speech Language Hearing Association
(ASHA) guidelines for screening school children recommend use of
20 dB HL at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz with 500 Hz to be included
if ambient noise levels permit.
3
Ambient noise levels are a concern when screening at this level.
It may be advisable to have room noise levels tested before using
this level routinely (see p. 27 for maximum permissible noise
levels).
25 DB HL
This is a standard screening level used with adults, and with chil-
dren in situations where ambient noise prohibits use of 20 dB HL.
40 DB HL
This is a screening level which may be used to assess hearing
impairment in those people aged 65 and above. Typically, failure at
any frequency except 4000 Hz necessitates referral. An inability to
hear 4000 Hz accompanied by inability to hear at least one other
frequency also necessitates a referral.
There is a debate in the audiological community as to the appro-
priateness of a 25 dB HL screen for seniors (those aged 65 and
above). Many feel the question becomes one of identifying per-
sons whose hearing impairment poses a handicap as opposed to
the question of normal hearing. Many researchers
4 propose
40 dB HL as the level of choice for this age group.
AudioScope 3 gives you the flexibility of screening at 25 dB HL,
40 dB HL or both.
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