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. |
 |
| 5 Minute Hearing Test | Almost Always | Half the Time | Occasionally | Never |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. I have a problem hearing over the telephone. | ||||
| 2. I have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time. | ||||
| 3. People complain that I turn the TV volume too high. | ||||
| 4. I have to strain to understand conversations. | ||||
| 5. I miss hearing some common sounds like the phone or doorbell ringing. | ||||
| 6. I have trouble hearing conversations in a noisy background such as a party. | ||||
| 7. I get confused about where sounds come from. | ||||
| 8. I misunderstand some words in a sentence and need to ask people to repeat themselves. | ||||
| 9. I especially have trouble understanding the speech of women and children. | ||||
| 10. I have worked in noisy environments (assembly lines, jackhammers, jet engines, etc.). | ||||
| 11. Many people I talk to seem to mumble (or don't speak clearly). | ||||
| 12. People get annoyed because I misunderstand what they say. | ||||
| 13. I misunderstand what others are saying and make inappropriate responses. | ||||
| 14. I avoid social activities because I cannot hear well and fear I'll replay improperly. | ||||
| To be answered by a family member or friend: 15. Do you think this person has a hearing loss? |
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.
WHAT IS OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK SURGERY?
Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery is a specialty concerned with the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat and related structures of the head and neck. The specialty encompasses cosmetic facial reconstruction, surgery of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck, management of patients with loss of hearing and balance, endoscopic examination of air and food passages and treatment of allergic, sinus, laryngeal, thyroid and esophageal disorders.
To qualify for the American Board of Otolaryngology certification examination, a physician must complete five or more years of post-M.D. (or D.O.) specialty training.
©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.
