Online Hearing Screening

Screening Version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory

ITEM YES
(4 pts)		 SOMETIMES
(2 pts)		 NO
(0 pts)
Does a hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed when you meet new people?
Does a hearing problem cause you to feel frustrated when talking to members of your family?
Do you have difficulty hearing when someone speaks in a whisper?
Do you feel handicapped by a hearing problem?
Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when visiting friends, relatives, or neighbors?
Does a hearing problem cause you to attend religious services less often than you would like?
Does a hearing problem cause you to have arguments with family members?
Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when listening to TV or radio?
Do you feel that any difficulty with your hearing limits or hampers your personal or social life?
Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when in a restaurant with relatives or friends?
 
RAW SCORE
0
 (sum of the points assigned each of the items)
INTERPRETING THE RAW SCORE
 0 to 8 = 13% probability of hearing impairment (no handicap/no referral)
10 to 24 = 50% probability of hearing impairment (mild-moderate handicap/refer)
26 to 40 = 84% probability of hearing impairment (severe handicap/refer)

Source: Ventry, I, Weinstein B. (1983). Identification of elderly people with hearing problems.
[copy]American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, July, 37-42.

Hearing impairment is common in older adults. Over 30% of individuals aged 65 to 74 and 50% of those over 75 have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss related to normal aging is the most common cause, but other risk factors include: exposure to regular, excessive noise; cerumen impaction; ototoxic medications; tumors; and diseases that affect sensorineural hearing. Hearing loss can lead to miscommunication, social withdrawal, confusion, depression, and reduction in functional status.

The screening version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE-S) as shown on the left is a 5-minute, 10-item questionnaire developed to assess how the individual perceives the social and emotional effects of hearing loss. Persons who perceive their hearing loss to be a problem are more likely to have further testing and accept the need for a hearing aid. The higher the HHIE-S score, the greater the handicapping effect of a hearing impairment. Audiologic referral is recommended for individuals scoring 10 or higher on the inventory.

The HHIE-S was designed to be used with non-institutionalized older adults in a variety of clinical and community settings. It is usually administered using a face-to-face interview. However, time constraints or a severe-to-profound hearing loss may preclude a face-to-face interview, in which case the inventory can be administered by having the individual do this self-test.

Source: Kathleen Demers, RN, MS, GNP
Posted: 06/08/2004; Dermatology Nursing. 2004;16(2) 
© 2004 Jannetti Publications, Inc.

Call Chappell Hearing Care Centers at (817) 263-1971 if you have any questions about this hearing screening test or if you desire additional testing.