Comparative validity of two hearing loss screening questionnaires.
BACKGROUND
Hearing loss is one of the most common of all physical impairments, but physicians seldom screen adults for it, and patients often overlook or deny hearing problems. This study was designed to validate the use of two self-administered hearing loss questionnaires.


METHODS
Two self-administered screening questionnaires and a hearing screening evaluation using the Welch Allyn Audioscope 3 instrument were given to 409 consecutive family practice patients over the age of 18 years. Correlational, discriminate, sensitivity, and specificity analyses were conducted on the data.


RESULTS
Neither of the existing questionnaires was clinically sensitive enough to be recommended for use. A new tool based on a discriminate function analysis of the existing questionnaires was developed. In contrast, the audioscope proved to be a sensitive screening tool. Of those patients who were identified, 88% did not follow recommendations to obtain further evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Existing self-administered questionnaires cannot be recommended for use. A controlled clinical study using the newly derived questionnaire, the Smith Hearing Screening, should be conducted.
Smith
M F
MF
Department of Family Practice, Albany Medical College, NY 12208-3495.
Nathan
R G
RG
Wayner
D S
DS
Mitnick
N C
NC
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*