Introduction: Frequent use of audio file players and volume intensity are risk factors for the development of hypoacusis.Objective: To validate the school-age hearing screening questionnaire (CUTAE, by its Spanish acronym) for hearing disorders detection in teenage users of compressed audio file players (CAFP). Methods: Adolescent CAFP users without hypoacusis or middle ear pathology were studied. The CUTAE was applied and audiometry was carried out. Reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient-ICC), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), face validity (Delphi technique), CUTAE-audiometry concurrent validity (Pearson's correlation) and predictive validity (multiple regression) of the questionnaire was assessed. Results: Fifty nine adolescents (118 ears), 66% females, average age of 13 years, were assessed. Ninety ears had normal parameters, 18 showed a threshold decrease < 20 dB, with morphology associated with acoustic trauma (AT) at 6 kHz and 10 with AT. The questionnaire had an ICC of 0.788, a Cronbach alpha-value of 0.807, Pearson's correlation values of 0.290 to 0.368 (p < 0.05); the predictive variables were usage hours, difficulty hearing others (p < 0.05) and type of buzzing (p = 0.07). Conclusion:The CUTAE has adequate clinimetric properties to be considered as a screening test in the detection of hearing disorders in adolescent users of CAFP.

The CUTAE has adequate clinimetric properties to be considered as a screening test in the detection of hearing disorders in adolescent users of CAFP.