ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the performance of Mandarin screening version of hearing handicap inven-tory in elderly (HHIE-S)and the single question of hearing loss in the hearing screening in the old adults.Methods A total of 570 participants,aged from 50~85 years,of native Mandarin speakers were tested with standard pure tone audiometry (PTA),HHIE-S and single questionAre you now having difficulty in hearing?.HHIE-S>8 was taken as an indicator of hearing handicap.Sensitivity,specificity,negative predictive values and positive predic-tive values of both HHIE-S and single question inquiry when 0.5~4 kHz PTA average > 25 dB,>40 dB and >60 dB were compared.Results The prevalence was 83.9% (478)measured by PTA.The prevalence was 55.3%and 52.5% for HHIE-S and positive answer for single question,respectively.The sensitivity of HHIE-S when the participants grouped with 0.5~4 kHz PTA average > 25 dB,>40 dB and > 60 dB was 61%,85% and 96%, respectively,whereas the sensitivity of single question of the above 3 conditions was 58%,81% and 100%,respec-tively.The specificity of HHIE-S decreased with greater hearing loss.It was 72%,88% and 47% respectively for HHIE-S and 75%,61% and 50% for the single question.There was no significant difference either for sensitivity and specificity between the HHIE-S and the single question.Conclusion Both the Mandarin version of HHIE-S and single question are effective in the hearing screening of old adults.Depending on the purpose and availability of resources,one or both of them can be adopted.