Information Line (Freephone)
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
informationline@rnid.org.uk
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
informationline@rnid.org.uk
RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.
Questions for audiologists and other hearing professionals
How did the Hearing Check come about?
Was it user-tested?
How does the RNID Hearing Check differ from conventional audiometry?
Does the Hearing Check replace a hearing assessment?
How did the Hearing Check come about?
The Hearing Check was adapted by RNID from a system already in place in the Netherlands. The digit sequences were recorded at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, and developed as part of the HearCom project (external link, opens new browser window), supported by grants from the European Union.
back to topWas it user-tested?
Yes, it was user-tested and validated at five UK universities under the guidance of Professor Mark Lutman of the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (external link, opens new browser window), Southampton University. The other four universities involved in the validation were University College London, Manchester University, Aston University and the Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham University.
back to topHow does the RNID Hearing Check differ from conventional audiometry?
Conventional audiometry measures the quietist sound a person can hear. The Hearing Check, on the other hand, measures a person's ability to distinguish one sound from another – in this case, 'speech in noise' – which is a good everyday indicator of hearing loss.
back to topDoes the Hearing Check replace a hearing assessment?
No. Although the Hearing Check is a validated screening test, it's not a diagnostic test. Its purpose is simply to identify whether or not a person has some kind of hearing loss. If the check indicates that they do, they're advised to see their GP, who might then refer them for a full hearing assessment.
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