2001 Volume 44 Issue 4 Pages 200-208
The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between hearing disabilities and handicaps experienced by retired workers from noisy workplace. The Japanese version of the Hearing Disability and Handicap Scale (HDHS) developed by the authors was used for self-assessment of hearing disabilities and handicaps. The questionnaire was completed by 210 workers with a compensable noise-induced hearing loss. The response rates of “Always or Sometimes” for questions regarding verbal sounds ranged from 74.3 to 91.4%, which are relatively higher than those for questions regarding non-verbal sounds which ranged from 49.2 to 70.0%. Handicap (HD) scores are closely related to averaged hearing level and also the number of years having hearing problem. Comparison of response rates for questions regarding verbal and non-verbal sounds among three groups classified by the HD-score suggested that the increase of HD-scores were connected with difficulties in enjoying TV or radio programs in the groups having lower HD-scores and with hearing difficulties in everyday conversation in those having higher HD-scores.
