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This quiz was field-tested on 71 older patients in five cities; audiograms were also run on them. Results showed that those whose quiz scores indicated a need to see a physician were confirmed, on the audiogram, as having a hearing impairment.
Mark the column that best describes the frequency with which you experience each situation or feeling.
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5 Minute |
Almost Always |
Half the Time |
Occasion |
Never |
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1. I have a problem hearing over the telephone. |
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2. I have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time. |
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3. People complain that I turn the TV volume too high. |
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4. I have to strain to understand conversations. |
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5. I miss hearing some common sounds like the phone or doorbell ringing. |
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6. I have trouble hearing conversations in a noisy background such as a party. |
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7. I get confused about where sounds come from. |
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8. I misunderstand some words in a sentence and need to ask people to repeat themselves. |
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9. I especially have trouble understanding the speech of women and children. |
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10. I have worked in noisy environments (assembly lines, jackhammers, jet engines, etc.). |
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11. Many people I talk to seem to mumble (or don’t speak clearly). |
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12. People get annoyed because I misunderstand what they say. |
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13. I misunderstand what others are saying and make inappropriate responses. |
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14. I avoid social activities because I cannot hear well and fear I’ll replay improperly. |
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To be answered by a family member or friend: 15. Do you think this person has a hearing loss? |
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Scoring: To calculate your score, give yourself 3 points for every time you checked the “Almost always” column, 2 for every “Half the time”, 1 for every “Occasionally”, and 0 for every “Never”. If you have a blood relative who has a hearing loss, and another 3 points. Then total your points.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recommends the following:
0 to 5 — Your hearing is fine. No action is required
6 to 9 — Suggest you see an ear-nose-and-throat (ENT) specialist
10 and above — Strongly recommend you see an ear physician.
©1992. This leaflet is published as a public service. The material may be freely used so long as attribution is given to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc., Alexandria, VA
