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Published on: January 25, 2016
Audiometric correlates of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the elderly
The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
|November 1, 1983
Summary
Self-assessed hearing handicap in the elderly, measured by the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), correlates best with pure-tone hearing sensitivity. Audiometric data alone is insufficient for measuring hearing handicap in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Gerontology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Self-assessment of hearing handicap is increasingly important.
- The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) measures emotional and social impacts of hearing loss in non-institutionalized elderly individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between audiometric measures and hearing handicap scores obtained using the HHIE in elderly subjects.
Main Methods:
- One hundred elderly participants underwent comprehensive audiometric evaluations.
- Participants also completed the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE).
Main Results:
- Pure-tone sensitivity in the better ear showed the strongest correlation with HHIE scores (r = .61).
- Word recognition explained less than 20% of the variance in HHIE scores.
- Significant individual variability in emotional and social responses to hearing impairment was observed, particularly in those with mild hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- Audiometric data alone explains less than 50% of the variance in hearing handicap.
- Self-report measures like the HHIE are more appropriate for assessing hearing handicap in the elderly than inferences from audiometric data alone.
- Individual variability underscores the need for personalized assessment approaches.
