Hearing loss in one ear can result in a person's impairment. The AMA has developed criteria to determine the level of impairment based on audiometric measurements.
Equipment: An audiometer calibrated to the ANSI Standard S3.6-1996 reference levels.
Procedure:
(1) Test the ear with a pure-tone audiometer at 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000 Hz.
(2) For each level determine the hearing threshold.
(3) If the hearing level is < 0, then the value is set to 0. If the hearing level is > 100, then the level is set to 100.
decibel sum of hearing threshold levels = DSHL score =
= SUM(points for hearing level at all 4 decibel settings)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 400
• The higher the score the greater the degree of impairment.
|
DSHL Score |
Percent Impairment |
|
100 |
0 |
|
105 |
1.9 |
|
110 |
3.8 |
|
115 |
5.6 |
|
120 |
7.5 |
|
125 |
9.4 |
|
130 |
11.2 |
|
135 |
13.1 |
|
140 |
15 |
|
145 |
16.9 |
|
150 |
18.8 |
|
155 |
20.6 |
|
160 |
22.5 |
|
165 |
24.4 |
|
170 |
26.2 |
|
175 |
28.1 |
|
180 |
30 |
|
185 |
31.9 |
|
190 |
33.8 |
|
195 |
35.6 |
|
200 |
37.5 |
|
205 |
39.4 |
|
210 |
41.2 |
|
215 |
43.1 |
|
220 |
45 |
|
225 |
46.9 |
|
230 |
48.8 |
|
235 |
50.6 |
|
240 |
52.5 |
|
245 |
54.4 |
|
250 |
56.2 |
|
255 |
58.1 |
|
260 |
60 |
|
265 |
61.9 |
|
270 |
63.8 |
|
275 |
65.6 |
|
280 |
67.5 |
|
285 |
69.3 |
|
290 |
71.2 |
|
295 |
73.1 |
|
300 |
75 |
|
305 |
76.9 |
|
310 |
78.8 |
|
315 |
80.6 |
|
320 |
82.5 |
|
325 |
84.4 |
|
330 |
86.2 |
|
335 |
88.1 |
|
340 |
90 |
|
345 |
91.9 |
|
350 |
93.8 |
|
355 |
95.6 |
|
360 |
97.5 |
|
365 |
99.4 |
|
370 |
100 |
from Table 11-1, page 247
When this data is analyzed in JMP, the following linear equation is derived:
percent impairment =
= (0.3745 * (DSHL score)) – 37.405
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Otolaryngology, Neurology
