Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI): Measuring Impact

The Dizziness Handicap Inventory measures how dizziness affects a patient's daily life. This self-report tool evaluates physical, emotional, and functional impacts to help guide treatment.

Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) PDF questionnaire for assessing dizziness impact.
DHI

Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI)

The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a 25-item self-assessment tool evaluating the impact of dizziness on daily life. Covering physical, emotional, and functional domains, it helps clinicians quantify a patient's perceived disability. It's essential for tracking progress in vestibular rehabilitation.

Category

Sensory
Mobility
Rehabilitation
Physical health

Disease

Assessment
Quality of Life
Rehabilitation
Clinical Measurement

Source

(Jacobson & Newman, 1990)

Author Name

Jacobson, G.P. & Newman, C.W. (1990)

What is Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI)

The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a trusted tool for checking how dizziness affects daily life. It helps clinicians see patient struggles. This twenty-five item self-report survey looks at the disabling effects of vestibular system issues. It is simple to use and provides a clear picture of symptom severity. The questions cover functional, emotional, and physical domains to see how balance problems stop normal activities. Patients answer yes, no, or sometimes to each point, creating a total score out of one hundred that tracks recovery progress over time. Clinicians use this scale to plan treatments for conditions like BPPV or Meniere's disease. It works well in busy clinics because it takes only a few minutes to finish. By spotting specific triggers, therapists can modify rehab plans to help patients get back on their feet and manage vertigo safely.

DHI Scoring

The Dizziness Handicap Inventory can be scored using a simple summation approach across three subscales. You will look at 25 items covering functional, emotional, and physical domains. For each question, assign 4 points for a Yes, 2 for Sometimes, and 0 for No. Tally these up to get a total score between 0 to 100. Higher numbers mean the dizziness is causing more trouble in daily life. Generally, scores under 30 suggest a mild handicap, 31 to 60 indicate moderate issues, and anything over 60 points to a severe perceived disability that needs attention.

View scoring form

Advantages

Outcome tracking

Measures healthcare intervention results systematically.

Treatment planning

Develops personalised strategies based on assessment data.

Diagnostic accuracy

Enables precise identification of patient health status.

10
Minutes
25
Questions

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