The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) is a tool designed to measure various aspects of hearing disability, including the ability to understand speech in noisy environments, spatial hearing, and the perception of different sounds. The SSQ was developed to assess how hearing impairments affect daily listening experiences and to evaluate the relationship between hearing disability and handicap. It includes items related to speech hearing, spatial hearing, and other qualities of hearing, such as signal segregation, clarity, and ease of listening. The SSQ was applied to 153 clinic clients before hearing aid fitting, revealing that the greatest difficulties were experienced with simultaneous speech streams, ease of listening, listening in groups and noise, and judging distance and movement. SSQ ratings were compared with an independent measure of handicap, and it was found that identification, attention, and effort problems, as well as spatial hearing problems, are prominent in the disability-handicap relationship. The SSQ shows promise as an instrument for evaluating interventions, particularly those involving binaural function. The SSQ includes 14 items on speech hearing, 17 on spatial hearing, and 18 on other functions and qualities. The results indicate that the SSQ provides a comprehensive assessment of hearing disability and its impact on daily life. The SSQ is a valuable tool for understanding the complex relationship between hearing disability and handicap, and it highlights the importance of considering both auditory and cognitive factors in hearing impairment. The SSQ is a self-report instrument that allows for a more comprehensive assessment of hearing disability and its impact on daily life. The SSQ is a valuable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of hearing interventions and for understanding the relationship between hearing disability and handicap. The SSQ is a self-report instrument that allows for a more comprehensive assessment of hearing disability and its impact on daily life. The SSQ is a valuable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of hearing interventions and for understanding the relationship between hearing disability and handicap.The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) is a tool designed to measure various aspects of hearing disability, including the ability to understand speech in noisy environments, spatial hearing, and the perception of different sounds. The SSQ was developed to assess how hearing impairments affect daily listening experiences and to evaluate the relationship between hearing disability and handicap. It includes items related to speech hearing, spatial hearing, and other qualities of hearing, such as signal segregation, clarity, and ease of listening. The SSQ was applied to 153 clinic clients before hearing aid fitting, revealing that the greatest difficulties were experienced with simultaneous speech streams, ease of listening, listening in groups and noise, and judging distance and movement. SSQ ratings were compared with an independent measure of handicap, and it was found that identification, attention, and effort problems, as well as spatial hearing problems, are prominent in the disability-handicap relationship. The SSQ shows promise as an instrument for evaluating interventions, particularly those involving binaural function. The SSQ includes 14 items on speech hearing, 17 on spatial hearing, and 18 on other functions and qualities. The results indicate that the SSQ provides a comprehensive assessment of hearing disability and its impact on daily life. The SSQ is a valuable tool for understanding the complex relationship between hearing disability and handicap, and it highlights the importance of considering both auditory and cognitive factors in hearing impairment. The SSQ is a self-report instrument that allows for a more comprehensive assessment of hearing disability and its impact on daily life. The SSQ is a valuable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of hearing interventions and for understanding the relationship between hearing disability and handicap. The SSQ is a self-report instrument that allows for a more comprehensive assessment of hearing disability and its impact on daily life. The SSQ is a valuable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of hearing interventions and for understanding the relationship between hearing disability and handicap.