Disabilities and handicaps associated with impaired auditory localization.

A questionnaire on (1) difficulties in everyday sound localization (localization disabilities), (2) limitations and disadvantages related to such disabilities (localization handicaps), and (3) everyday speech hearing disabilities was completed by 104 people with symmetrical hearing losses. Respondents considered situations when listening with and without their usual hearing aid fittings. The hearing-impaired group rated their unaided localization ability as significantly poorer than a sample with no reported hearing loss, particularly discrimination of distance. Only slight limitations on everyday activity due to localization disability were found, but disadvantage was reported in the form of experiences of confusion of sounds, of resultant loss of concentration, and of a wish to escape settings where this occurred. There was a moderate correlation between localization and speech hearing, even when hearing level was controlled for. Aided listening, whether with one or with two hearing aids, was reported as enabling significant improvements in both functions.