On objective criteria for hearing impairment and hearing disability.

The relationship between subjective symptoms of hearing disorder and objective criteria of hearing impairment and hearing disability was examined in a group of 77 male subjects (median age 57 years, range 49-68) suffering from noise-induced permanent hearing loss. Among all subjects, 52% (40/77) reported having a general impression of subjective hearing disability. The average of pure-tone auditory thresholds at 0.5 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 kHz greater than or equal to 20 dB HL used as an objective criterion for hearing impairment and hearing disability appeared to be the more sensitive and reliable of the various criteria used. Based on the definition of hearing handicap, it is suggested that more sophisticated testing than pure-tone auditory thresholds should be taken into account when approving or disapproving hearing disability as a hearing handicap.