TRIAGEM AUDITIVA EM ESCOLARES DE 5 A 10 ANOS.

Purpose: to analyze schoolchildren's performance in hearing screening, considering male and female genders and ages in groups I, II and III. Methods: two-hundred and eighty-seven male and female schoolchildren, 5 to 10-year old, who attended the Child and Adolescent Program - University of Campinas (Prodecad/Unicamp), were evaluated. Hearing screening was constituted by meatoscopy, imitanciometry - tympanometry, and acoustic reflex research, in addition to tests which comprise the simplified evaluation of hearing process. Results: considering imitanciometry, 60.6% of schoolchildren presented normal median ear conditions, in addition to integrity of hearing tracts up to encephalic trunk. Fifty-six percent of schoolchildren presented good results in the hearing screening process. Groups I and II presented a larger number of children who failed in hearing screening, considering either imitanciometry or hearing processing tests. Conclusion: hearing screening is an effective way to determine the adequate conduct to be adopted with schoolchildren regarding peripheral hearing loss and/or hearing abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]