5-minute Hearing Test

Please mark the column that best describes the frequency with which you experience each situation or feeling listed below.
	Almost Always	Half the time	Occasionally	Never
I have a problem hearing over the telephone	______	______	______	______
I have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time.	______	______	______	______
I have trouble understanding things on TV	______	______	______	______
I have to strain to understand conversations.	______	______	______	______
I have to worry about missing a telephone ring or doorbell.	______	______	______	______
I have trouble hearing conversations in a noisy background such as a crowded room or restaurant.	______	______	______	______
I get confused about where sounds come from.	______	______	______	______
I misunderstand some words in a sentence and need to ask people to repeat themselves.	______	______	______	______
I especially have trouble understanding the speech of women and children.	______	______	______	______
I have trouble understanding the speaker in a large room such as a meeting or a church.	______	______	______	______
Many people I talk to seem to mumble or don't speak clearly.	______	______	______	______
People get annoyed because I misunderstand what they say.	______	______	______	______
I misunderstand what others are saying and make inappropriate responses.	______	______	______	______
I avoid social activities because I cannot hear well and fear I will reply improperly.	______	______	______	______
Family members and friends have told me they think I may have a hearing loss.	______	______	______	______

SCORING

To calculate your score, give yourself 3 points for every time you checked “Almost always”; 2 points for every time you checked “Half the time”; 1 point for every time you checked “Occasionally”; and 0 for every time you checked “Never.” If you have a blood relative with a hearing loss, add another 3 points. Total your score.

RECOMMENDATIONS

0 – 5 points: Your hearing is fine. No action is required.

6 – 9 points: Suggest you see a hearing health care professional.

10 + points: Strongly recommend you see a hearing health care professional.

__________________________________________________________________________

Koike, K.J., Hurst, M.J., & Wetmore, S.J. (1994). Correlations between the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery five minute hearing test and standard audiological data. Otolaryngology-Head neck Surgery, 111, 5, November , 1994.

Copyright 1989. This test is published as a public service. It may be freely used as long as attribution is given to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc., 1101 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 302, Washington, DC 20005.

If you received 6 or more points, contact CHS Audiology Service to set up an appointment.
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5-minute Hearing Test

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