In Brief:
The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the necessity and potential benefit of measuring hearing disability in addition to hearing impairment and to provide an instrument for routine screening of hearing disability: the SSQ5, a short five-item version of the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ). Using the SSQ, our results showed data of healthy, middle-aged persons with significant disability, despite minimal impairment (25%) versus data of middle-aged persons with significant impairment and nevertheless, minimal disability (61%). To get a first impression of hearing disability, our results suggest that it is useful to ask five disability questions (SSQ5) instead of one general question such as “Do you have hearing loss?”
