Abstract
Hearing loss is a common condition. Hearing loss causes difficulty on communication
and social interaction of persons. It disturbs daily life, education, occupation, depression and
family burden. A simple, non-professionals required test that can be used as a mass screening
will help to find more hearing loss persons.
This research is aimed to study the sensitivity of Five Minute Hearing Test-Thai Version in
comparison with audiometry as a gold standard for screening hearing loss in the community
population.
558 persons, age ranged from 18 -87 years old, who live in municipal and non-municipal
area of Phuweang district, Khon Kaen province were included. There were 176 males (32%) and
382 females (68%). Unilateral hearing loss was found in 78 persons (14%) and bilateral hearing
loss was found in 136 persons (24.4%). Among those who had bilateral hearing loss, there were
107 cases of mild hearing loss, and 28 cases of hearing disabilities. One case had impact
cerumens and moderate hearing loss. When impact cerumens were removed, her hearing was
turn into mild hearing loss. The sensitivity and specificity of FMHT-Thai version to screen mild
hearing loss were 55.2% and 72.5%, while the sensitivity and specificity to screening hearing
disabilities were 86.2% and 69.4% respectively. The optimized cut-off point for total score of
FMHT-Thai version was 10.
FMHT-Thai version has appropriate sensitivity and specificity to be used as a screening
test for hearing disability in community.
