A study on the accuracy of pen click test as a hearing screening tool among newborns seen in two tertiary government hospitals.
- Author:
Genevieve A. Abuan
;
Aileen Grace T. Membrere
;
Michael M. Resurreccion
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Newborn Hearing Screening;
Hearing impairment;
Accuracy
- From:
The Philippine Children’s Medical Center Journal
2019;15(1):9-15
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:Hearing impairment has a great impact on the functional, social and emotional aspects
of a child. Thus, early detection and management is crucial for optimal development of the child. The
Newborn Hearing Screening Act was approved in the Philippines to ―institutionalize measures for
prevention and early diagnosis of congenital hearing loss among newborns‖. A simple, accurate and
readily available hearing screening tool is necessary in less privileged communities.
OBJECTIVES:To determine the accuracy of Pen Click Test as compared to otoacoustic emission test as
a hearing screening tool among newborns seen in two tertiary government hospitals. The accuracy of Pen
Click Test was measured for its sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value.
METHODS:The study is an experimental design consisting of three phases: Phase I is a randomized
complete block design; Phase II involves inter-rater and intra-rater variability randomized block design
and Phase III is a cross sectional design. The study was done in two government tertiary hospitals. The
subjects are term newborns with both ears analyzed independently from each other.
RESULTS:Phase I of the study identified Acroball retractable pen as the study stimulus based on its
accessibility and its capability to produce high decibel. In phase II, all health workers produced a sound
stimulus of more than 70 decibels. Majority of the health workers had no significant difference among
each other which means there is minimal deviation from the mean. Phase III showed that pen click test
has a high specificity of 98% and a sensitivity of 43%. Based on disease prevalence, the test showed a
positive predictive value of 77% and negative predictive value of 93%. Kappa agreement showed
moderate result with a Kappa coefficient of 0.54.
CONCLUSION:The study showed high specificity in identifying hearing impairment and a positive
association of Pen Click test to the standard hearing audiometer. The application of this test in the
community may be done as a hearing screening tool. This study provides an accessible, easily
reproducible and accurate tool for hearing screening that may be applied in communities without
facilities.
- Full text:A study on the accuracy of pen click test.pdf
