Hearing Handicap Inventory in the Elderly -- Screening Questionnaire
This assessment identifies patients who suffer from hearing deficit
and may be handicapped by it.
Instructions: Answer Yes, No, or Sometimes for each question.
Do not skip any questions even if your patient avoids a situation because of a hearing problem.
If your patient uses a hearing aid, please answer according to the way they hear with the aid.
- 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?
Scoring: No = 0; Sometimes = 2; Yes = 4.
- 0-8: No handicap
- 9-25: Mild to moderate handicap
- 26-40: Severe handicap
Equivalent Score in Minimum Data Set (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) |
Score | Interpretation |
0-8 | HEARS ADEQUATELY - normal talk, TV, phone |
9-25 | MINIMAL DIFFICULTY when not in quiet setting |
26-35 | HEARS IN SPECIAL SITUATIONS ONLY - speaker has to adjust tonal quality and speak distinctly |
36-40 | HIGHLY IMPAIRED - absence of useful hearing |
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