Introduction: Hearing evaluation of school age children is necessary for the early identification and correction of hearing alterations. Aim: To identify and qualify the most frequent hearing alterations in school children. Material and method: The research involved 121 school children from 1st to 8th grade in the age group of 7 to 14 years in November of 1998 in the city of Goiânia by otolaryngologists and fonaudiologists by means of otolaryngological, tonal hearing, and imitation testing clinical exams in the Otolaryngological Clinic of the Clinical Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of the Federal University of Goiás. Results: Hearing tests involving 242 ears demonstrated: 76% (184) ears with hearing within normal limits and 24% (58) ears with hearing alteration. The most frequent hearing alterations were: conductive hearing loss in 12% (26), consisting of 8% (16) left ear and 4% (9) right ear. Neurosensorial hearing loss was apparent in 7% (15) ears, consisting of 2% (5) left ear and 5% (10) right ear. Imitation testing involving 242 ears demonstrated altered tympanic membrane: type B curve 3% (6), and type C curve 3% (6). Conclusion: We concluded that hearing alterations can harm the attention and comprehension of school children and that early diagnosis and treatment to obtain better student results is important.
audiometry; students; audition
