- Neurology
- Headache
- Migraine
- General medicine
HIT-6 score
Assess the impact of headaches
The six-item Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) measures the impact of headaches on daily life. It complements the patient's assessment and can support monitoring its repercussions. On its own, it does not distinguish a migraine from another cause of headache.
- Number of questions
- 6 questions
- Approximate duration
- 1 to 2 minutes
- Population
- Adults presenting with headaches
- Modality
- Self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaire
QuestionnaireHIT-6
SELF-QUESTIONNAIRE
The questionnaire combines several dimensions of the impact of headaches. Three questions explicitly cover the last four weeks. The assessment can be completed by the patient before the consultation or by the practitioner.
Are you patient?
You can complete the HIT-6 yourself. It measures the impact of your headaches, not their cause; share the result with your healthcare provider.
Terms of contract
For repeated data collection, use the same version and document the context. Feedback is enhanced by comparing the overall score with the difficulties the patient prioritises for improvement.
Score interpretationHIT-6
Responses are assigned specific weights: never (6), rarely (8), occasionally (10), very often (11), all the time (13). The total ranges from 36 to 78; a higher score indicates a greater impact.
Total score
First reading
36 to 49
Little or no impact of headaches on daily life (36 to 49).
50 to 55
Moderate impact of headaches on daily life (50 to 55).
56 to 59
Significant impact of headaches on daily life (56 to 59).
60 to 78
Major impact of headaches on daily life (60 to 78).
A standard rating of 0 to 4 would give a different result. The total is displayed from 36 to 78, without being converted into a percentage.
The HIT-6 is based on reported experience and does not replace a clinical diagnosis. The categories refer to the measured impact, not to neurological severity. Any variation must be interpreted in context; it does not constitute an automatic rule for modifying treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Sources and references
Mark Kosinski and colleagues
Initial validation: Quality of Life Research, 2003.
Questionnaires and associated scores
Integrate questionnaires into your practice
One-off collection or questionnaire integrated into a journey: let's discuss your needs with Aldebaran.