[Quantitative evaluation of hearing disorders in expert assessment. A recent recommendation for calculating the percentage of hearing loss].

A short historical survey is given of grading the severity of hearing disorders and assessing the relevant disability for recompensation purposes according to the tables of Boenninghaus, Röser, and Feldmann. The present situation and the reasons giving rise to dissatisfaction with this procedure are analysed. They are the high threshold of 20% disability for recompensation, the rigidity of the tables, and the technical development of speech audiometry without concomitant adaptation of the tables. The following possible solutions are discussed and rejected: changing the tables, substituting speech audiometry by tone audiometry, speech audiometry with interfering noise, filtered speech audiometry, special bonus for recruitment. The following feasible solution is proposed: Retaining all tables in use up to this time, however, instead of using the sum of discrimination scores which simply adds the scores at 60, 80 and 100 dB SRL, weighting factors are introduced according to the formula [3 x (% at 60 dB) + 2 x (% at 80 dB) + 1 x (% at 100 dB)]: 2 The advantages and the effect of this procedure on calculating hearing loss and disability are discussed.