Hearing loss in both ears can result in impairment of the whole person. The AMA has developed criteria to determine the level of impairment.
binaural hearing impairment in percent =
= ((5 * (percent hearing impairment in the better ear)) + (percent hearing impairment in the worse ear)) / 6
Interpretation:
• minimum binaural hearing loss: 0 percent
• maximum binaural hearing loss: 100 percent
• The higher the percent binaural hearing loss, the greater the degree of impairment to the whole person.
Percent Binaural Hearing Impairment |
Percent Impairment of the Whole Person |
0 – 1.7 |
0 |
1.8 – 4.2 |
1 |
4.3 – 7.4 |
2 |
7.5 – 9.9 |
3 |
10 – 13.1 |
4 |
13.2 – 15.9 |
5 |
16 – 18.8 |
6 |
18.9 – 21.4 |
7 |
21.5 – 24.5 |
8 |
24.6 – 27.1 |
9 |
27.2 – 30 |
10 |
30.1 – 32.8 |
11 |
32.9 – 35.9 |
12 |
36 – 38.5 |
13 |
38.6 – 41.7 |
14 |
41.8 – 44.2 |
15 |
44.3 – 47.4 |
16 |
47.5 – 49.9 |
17 |
50 – 53.1 |
18 |
53.2 – 55.7 |
19 |
55.8 – 58.8 |
20 |
58.9 – 61.4 |
21 |
61.5 – 64.5 |
22 |
64.6 – 67.1 |
23 |
67.2 – 70 |
24 |
70.1 – 72.8 |
25 |
72.9 – 75.9 |
26 |
76 – 78.5 |
27 |
78.6 – 81.7 |
28 |
81.8 – 84.2 |
29 |
84.3 – 87.4 |
30 |
87.5 – 89.9 |
31 |
90 – 93.1 |
32 |
93.2 – 95.7 |
33 |
95.8 – 98.8 |
34 |
98.9 - 100 |
35 |
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Otolaryngology, Neurology