Codes and Frequencies
Description
HRSPEAK indicates whether the respondent can usually hear and understand what a person says without seeing his or her face if that person SPEAKS LOUDLY into the respondents "better ear."
This question was asked to adults whose hearing is not excellent and who indicated their hearing was worse in one ear than the other, could not hear whispering, normal, or shouting voices, (or was unknown) in 2007 and 2008. In 1999, it was asked of adults who are not deaf but could not hearing shouting voices from across a room (1999). For 1971, 1977, 1990-1991it was asked of persons age 3 and over who are deaf in one or both ears, or have other trouble hearing or use a hearing aid, and who, without a hearing aid, cannot hear a whisper, a normal voice, or a shout across a room. See the "universe" option for full description of these differences.
Other hearing related variables are included in the survey.
These include:
- Quality of hearing (HEARING, 1997-2009)
- Referred to an audiologist or "hearing aid dispenser", past 5 years (HRAUD, 2007 only)
- Referred to hearing specialist, past 5 years (HRSPEC, 2007 only)
- Cause of hearing loss (HRCAUSE1 2007, 2003)
- Frustrated with hearing loss (HRFRUST, 2007 )
- Frequency hearing causes worry about safety (HRSAFETY, 2007)
- Told of hearing problem by friends or relatives (HRFAM, 2007)
- Age at beginning of adult's hearing loss (HEARDAAGE, 1999, 2002, 2007)
- Can hear and understand someone who whispers from across a quiet room (HRWHISP, 1971, 1977, 1990-1991, 1999, 2007)
- Can hear and understand someone who shouts from across a quiet room (HRSHOUT 1971, 1977, 1990-1991, 1999, 2007)
- Can hear and understand if someone speaks loudly in the "better ear" from across a quiet room (HRSPEAK, 1971, 1977, 1990-1991, 1999, 2007)
- Trouble with hearing in presence of background noise (HRBACK, 2007 only)
Comparability
HRSPEAK is not completely comparable over time. Apart from changes in the universe, substantial changes in the question wording occurred, where in the 2007 and 2008 surveys did not include the text, "without a hearing aid" in the question.
The presence of proxy reporting in 1971, 1977, 1990-1991 but not in the 1999, 2007 or 2008 surveys also somewhat reduce comparability. In the earlier years, a respondent representing the family could answer this question for other adult family members. From 1999 forward, except in rare cases where disability precluded self-reporting, sample adults themselves answered the question. Because self-reporting is likely to be more accurate than proxy reporting, researchers should exercise caution when comparing results between the earlier years and 1999 forward.
Universe
- 1971 1977: Persons age 3+ who are deaf in one or both ears, or have trouble hearing with one or both ears, or use a hearing aid, and who, without a hearing aid, cannot hear a whisper, a normal voice, or a shout across a room (or whose ability to hear sounds across a room was unknown).
- 1990-1991: Persons age 3+ who are now deaf in one or both ears, or now have trouble hearing with one or both ears, or now use a hearing aid, and who, without a hearing aid, cannot hear a whisper, a normal voice, or a shout across a room (or whose ability to hear sounds across a room was unknown).
- 1999: Sample adults age 18+ who are not deaf but have a little or a lot of trouble hearing and who do not say that they can hear shouting across a quiet room.
- 2007: Sample adults age 18+ who have other than excellent hearing or whose hearing status is unknown AND who can't hear whispering voices or refused/don't know whether they can hear whispering voices AND who can't hear normal voices or refused/don't know whether they can hear normal voices AND who can't hear shouting voices or refused/don't know whether they can hear shouting voices.
Availability
- 1971, 1977, 1990-1991, 1999, 2007
Weights
- 1971, 1977, 1990-1991 : PERWEIGHT
- 1999, 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT
