An evaluation of the English language version of the social hearing handicap index.

It is widely acknowledged that standard clinical measures of hearing assessment can provide no more than a relative measure of social efficiency. A Danish language scale for self-assessment of hearing handicap has been reported both in terms of initial assessment, and of assessing response to rehabilitatory intervention. The English language version of this scale was included in a study on hearing handicap in a sample of adult native English speakers. The results essentially supported the claims of the authors but some reservations are noted.