International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research · Jun 23, 2026

Development and Validation of a Hearing Screening Checklist for Women during Menopause Stage: a Cross-sectional Study

By Mehra M, Kumar S, Singh A et al.

Background: Menopause is associated with hormonal alterations that may affect auditory functioning. Evidence suggests that estrogen deficiency may influence cochlear physiology and hearing sensitivity. Objective: To develop and validate a hearing screening checklist for women during different stages of menopause and compare checklist findings with audiological evaluation. Methods: Sixty women aged 35–52 years were categorized into pre-menopause, peri-menopause, and post-menopause groups. A 25-item hearing screening checklist was developed, validated, and administered. Participants underwent otoscopic examination, Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), and Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emission (TEOAE) testing. Results: Significant differences were observed among menopausal groups for questionnaire scores (p=0.007) and PTA findings (p=0.023). Hearing difficulties were more frequently reported in post-menopausal women. The checklist demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.935). Conclusion: The developed checklist is a reliable and clinically useful screening tool for early identification of hearing difficulties among menopausal women.

doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.82074Open accessBiomarkers