Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2025
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
The validity of using a self-report single question as a means to detect hearing loss in an adolescent population
Katharina Heigl1,2,3, Doris Gerstner1, Jonas Huß1
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and Epidemiology, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Munich, Germany.
Objective:
The overall objective in the study was to compare self-reported hearing based on a single question ("how good would you currently rate your hearing?") to measure hearing loss determined by audiometry in a cohort of adolescents. Prevalence of audiometrically measured hearing loss and frequencies of self-reported poor hearing as well as factors that have an impact on self-reported hearing were examined.
Design:
Baseline and 5-year follow-up data of the Ohrkan study were used. Participants filled in a questionnaire and underwent audiometric measurements.
Study Sample:
Data from 979 adolescents were analysed. Participants were 54.7% female and aged between 13 and 18 years at baseline and 17-21 years at 5-yr follow-up.
Results:
The single question on self-reported hearing ability achieved a sensitivity of 41.9% and a positive predictive value of 7.1% at baseline. For the 5-yr follow-up, sensitivity was 40.0%, positive predictive value was 13.9%. Factors influencing self-reported poor hearing were gender, tinnitus, "muffled" ears after exposure to loud noise (e.g. after a concert) and low-frequency hearing loss.
Conclusions:
The single question about hearing ability used in the Ohrkan study is not sufficient to replace audiometry to detect hearing loss as defined in the study in adolescents.
