Factors associated with RHHI scores (Dillard et al., 2025)

Purpose: This study aims to determine the (a) factors associated with self-reported hearing difficulty and (b) relationship of self-reported hearing difficulty with hearing aid use.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among participants of the population-based Survey of the Health of Wisconsin cohort who self-reported hearing loss. Among those participants, self-reported hearing difficulty was measured using the Revised Hearing Handicap Inventory, screening version (RHHI-S). We used age- and sex-adjusted linear and logistic regression models, respectively, to evaluate associations of (a) demographic, hearing- and health-related factors with RHHI-S scores, and (b) RHHI-S scores with self-reported hearing aid use. Results are presented as regression coefficients or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: This study included 137 participants, with a mean age of 63.7 (SD = 12.1) years, 48.2% male, and 24.3% Black race. Participants’ mean RHHI-S score was 11.0 (SD = 10.9) points. Factors associated with higher RHHI-S scores included male sex (among participants ≥ 65 years), younger age of self-reported hearing loss onset, high school/GED education or less (among participants Conclusions: Demographic, hearing-, and health-related factors were associated with RHHI-S scores, and higher RHHI-S scores were strongly associated with hearing aid use. Findings could inform the implementation of self-reported hearing difficulty tools in clinical and research settings.Supplemental Material S1. Demographic characteristics, presented as mean (SD) or n (%), of the participants who were included and excluded from this study.Supplemental Material S2. Mean (SD) and response options for the RHHI-S, compared to results presented by Cassarly et al. (2020).Dillard, L. K., Dubno, J. R., Nelson-Bakkum, E. R., & Schultz, A. (2025). Factors associated with self-reported hearing difficulty on the revised hearing handicap inventory and its relationship with hearing aid use: Findings from the population-based survey of the health of Wisconsin. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 68(11), 5570–5581. https://doi.org/10.1044/2025_JSLHR-25-00407