The S-O-A-R Protocol was developed for the health professional for hearing screening, but is equally important for parents and other health care providers to utilize. It gives the very basic steps needed to quickly assess if a problem may exist. It stands for:

SCREEN -   Use the OtoScreen device and screen at 500, 1000, 2000 & 4000 Hz
OBSERVE - Look for signs of Hearing Loss
ASK -         "Do you have any trouble with your hearing?"
REFER -     All abnormal or questionable results for appropriate follow-up

The table below shows the recommended screening intensities for different age groups. If a subject can't hear one of the tones below, there may be a problem and the subject should be referred for additional testing.

Frequency (Hz)	500	1000	2000	4000
Children	Omit	20 dB HL	20 dB HL	20 dB HL
General Population	May Omit	25 dB HL	25 dB HL	25 dB HL
Senior Population	May Omit	40 dB HL	40 dB HL	40 dB HL

Hearing screening is done at the threshold of human hearing ability. So naturally the otoscreener's presented tones are very soft. The 500 Hz measurement is sensitive to background noise that is typical in doctor's offices and other potential testing areas. This is why it is usually omitted. However, if there is a sufficiently quiet environment it can be tested.

The PEDIATRIC version of the OtoScreen device tests at the 20 dB HL and 40 db HL levels. The STANDARD version of the OtoScreen device tests at the 25 dB HL and 40 dB HL levels.

The OtoScreen unit has two buttons, a SCAN button and either a BOOST button or a 40db-Toggle button. The SCAN button presents the softer tone (20 or 25 dB HL).

For OtoScreen I, II and III units, if the BOOST button is pressed while the SCAN button is also being pressed, the louder tone is presented (40 dB HL).

For OtoScreen IV and OtoPulse, the 40db-Toggle button switches back and forth between the softer and louder tones and doesn't need to be constantly pressed.

If a subject can't hear one of the softer tones, activate the 40db tone to see if they can hear the louder tone. If a subject can't hear a louder tone there is a much higher chance of a hearing problem.

The OtoSimple hearing screener only tests at the 40 dB HL level for screening the senior population.

Note - For OtoScreen I, II & III devices, the BOOST button by itself doesn't present a tone, the SCAN button must be pressed first.