Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults

The Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) is a 25-item self-report questionnaire that quantifies the functional and emotional effects of hearing loss on daily life, work, and psychosocial well-being. Developed by Newman, Weinstein, Jacobson, and Hug in 1990, the HHIA is the most widely used hearing-specific quality-of-life measure in audiology and otolaryngology. It provides a patient-centered assessment of hearing handicap, distinct from audiometric measures alone, and is standard for baseline assessment, monitoring hearing aid benefit, and outcome evaluation in hearing conservation programs.