Understanding Whole Person Impairment (WPI) and Binaural Hearing Impairment (BHI)
At the Auditory & Vestibular Institute of Los Angeles, we understand that hearing loss and balance disorders can significantly impact everyday life. For insurance claims, legal cases, and medical evaluations, two important measures are used: Whole Person Impairment (WPI) and Binaural Hearing Impairment (BHI). Below, we break down what these terms mean and how they are calculated in simple terms.
What is Binaural Hearing Impairment (BHI)?
Binaural Hearing Impairment (BHI) refers to the degree of hearing loss in both ears, expressed as a percentage.
Why is this important?
This percentage helps assess how much your ability to hear in everyday situations has been reduced due to injury, illness, or workplace exposure.How is it calculated?
We measure hearing at four key frequencies: 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 3000 Hz. A formula is applied to determine how severe the hearing loss is in each ear, and a weighted calculation ensures the ear with more hearing loss is given greater importance since it has a larger impact on overall hearing ability.
What is Whole Person Impairment (WPI)?
Whole Person Impairment (WPI) takes the BHI percentage and converts it into an estimate of how much the hearing loss affects the person’s entire body and quality of life.
Why does this matter?
This percentage is used in personal injury claims, workers’ compensation cases, and insurance settlements to evaluate how much a person’s hearing impairment impacts their daily functioning.How is WPI related to BHI?
Once the BHI percentage is calculated, it is multiplied by 0.35 (35%) to reflect the proportion of hearing loss relative to the overall body’s functionality.
Example:
If someone has significant hearing loss, their BHI might be 40%. When this is multiplied by 0.35, the WPI becomes 14%. This means that the hearing impairment reduces their whole-body functioning by 14%.
Why Are These Calculations Important?
For Lawyers and Insurance Adjusters:
These numbers are critical in determining fair compensation in injury cases and claims. A higher WPI suggests more severe impairment and could result in higher payouts.For Physicians and Healthcare Providers:
WPI helps guide treatment planning and referrals, ensuring patients receive the necessary support, such as hearing aids or vestibular therapy.For Employers and Industrial Workers:
Preventative measures, like hearing protection, can reduce the risk of work-related hearing loss and avoid higher WPI scores that impact workers' compensation claims.
Click The Link to Use Our WPI Calculator
We’ve built an easy-to-use Whole Person Impairment (WPI) Calculator to help professionals and individuals quickly determine BHI and WPI percentages.
Click the link below to access the calculator: