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 |
Go to other assessments.