Is parental perception an accurate predictor of childhood hearing loss? A prospective study

OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to assess whether parental perception of hearing loss predicted the results of audiometric testing in children with recurrent otitis media or persistent otitis media with effusion. METHODS: As part of a larger prospective observational outcomes study of ch ildren undergoing tympanostomy tube placement, the child's parent completed a standardized questionnaire before and after tube placement. In addition, patients underwent age-appropriate audiologic threshold and tympanometry t esting before and after tube placement. RESULTS: We enrolled 113 patients (median age, 2 years), and 93 (82%) compl eted follow-up. Before treatment, parental perception of hearing loss did n ot predict hearing threshold level. After tube placement, parental percepti on of hearing loss was also poorly correlated with change in threshold. CONCLUSIONS: Parental perception of their child's hearing loss is a poor pr edictor of objective audiologic findings both before and after treatment wi th tympanostomy tubes. These findings have important implications concernin g the importance of screening for hearing loss in children with otitis medi a with effusion.