Hearing handicap scores and categories for subjects with normal and impaired hearing sensitivity

The hearing handicap scale, a commonly used self-assessment measure, was administered to 50 subjects with normal hearing and hearing impairment. These subjects were then divided into three groups based on pure tone test results so that the range of hearing handicap scale scores could be determined for different hearing sensitivities. Subjects in one group of 20 exhibited hearing sensitivity of 10 dB hearing threshold level or better. A second group of 10 subjects had hearing sensitivity of 11--25 dB hearing threshold level. The third group of 20 subjects had sensitivity poorer than 25 dB hearing threshold level. Percentage scores for the subjects with the most sensitive hearing clustered from 0 to 20% with a mean score of 7.8%. The intermediate group had a mean score of 25.6%. Scores for the hearing-impaired group clustered between 40 and 70% with a mean score of 54%. Score variability was about twice as great in the two groups with poorer sensitivity. It is suggested that hearing handicap performance may be classified into one of four categories, ranging from no handicap to severe handicap.