Social Hearing Handicap Index

The Social Hearing Handicap Index (SHHI) is a questionnaire that is used to assess the acoustic condition of a patient based on routine activities. The SHHI comprises 21 items that could have a “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know” answer; these responses are then converted into numerical values for ease in scoring and evaluation. The SHHI may also be translated and applied to other hearing centers around the world.

The SHHI is based on the principle that a decline in an individual’s hearing efficiency necessarily impacts his or her daily life. Patients experiencing problems with hearing generally consult a physician, who then recommends a hearing examination. This form of assessment employs audiometric values that describe the quality and quantity of sound that an individual could perceive. ...