B0200 — Hearing
Response options, how to score it, and the error that most often sends the record back. Cited to Ch. 3, Item B0200.
Response options
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Adequate — no difficulty in normal conversation, social interaction, or listening to TV |
| 1 | Minimal difficulty — difficulty in some environments (e.g., when person speaks softly, or setting is noisy) |
| 2 | Moderate difficulty — speaker has to increase volume and speak distinctly |
| 3 | Highly impaired — absence of useful hearing |
| - | Dash — no information (rare; CMS expects infrequent use) |
How to score it
Score the patient's hearing ability WITH their normal hearing appliance in place and operational — a hearing aid left in a drawer doesn't count as 'in use.' Base the code on how the patient hears in real situations (normal conversation, social interaction, listening to TV), combining self-report with your own observation during the interview. Complete as close to SOC/ROC as possible. Dash is a valid response (rare) when no information is available.
The common error
Scoring unaided hearing ability when the patient owns and normally uses a hearing aid — CMS's item intent is to identify hearing ability 'with hearing aid or hearing appliances if normally used,' so an unaided assessment overstates impairment.
Source: OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual — Ch. 3, Item B0200. Verified 2026-04-26.
Nearby Section B items
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