Suna TOKGÖZ YILMAZ, Bünyamin ÇILDIR, Samet KILIÇ, Başak ÖZKİŞİ

The Turkish Short Version of the CSpeech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) for Clinical Use: Determining Reliability and Validity for People with and without Hearing Loss on the Basis of SSQ12-A, SSQ12-B, SSQ12-C

Objective: This study was aimed at analyzing the validity and reliability of a Turkish shortened version of Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing (SSQ) scale for adults using hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. The analysis was based on three forms of the SSQ, namely, SSQ12-A, SSQ12-B, and SSQ12-C. Methods: A total of two hundred and fifty-eight individuals with moderate or moderate- to-severe (n = 98), severe or very severe hearing loss (n = 71) and normal hearing (n = 89) from four centers participated in our study. SSQ12-A was administered to individuals who were suffering from hearing loss, and with normal hearing but were not previously fitted with a hearing aid. SSQ12-B was distributed to individuals who had been using a hearing aid for at least 6 months, and SSQ12-C was administered to individuals who had been using cochlear implants for at least 6 months. SSQ12-A was then re-administered to 27 individuals with hearing loss for the reliability of the questionnaire. Results: The internal consistency and reliability of all the three questionnaires were high (Cronbach’s α = 0.96, α = 0.96, and α = 0.84, respectively). Individuals with moderate hearing loss derived higher scores than did the individuals with severe or very severe hearing in SSQ12-A and SSQ12-B. No statistically significant difference was found between the scores (p > 0.05) of the respondents in the first and second rounds of SSQ12-A administration. Conclusions: The Turkish shortened version of the SSQ is a valid and reliable questionnaire for assessing hearing function. The three forms of the SSQ12 are useful for evaluatinghearing impairment and in organizing rehabilitation programs.

PDF

___

1. World Health Organisation. 1.1 billion people at risk of hearing loss, 2015. Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/ 2015/ear-care/en/. Accessed on 9 August 2020.
2. Granberg S, Swanepoel de W, Englund U, Möller C, Danermark B. The ICF core sets for hearing loss project: international expert survey on functioning and disability of adults with hearing loss using the international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF). Int J Audiol. 2014;53(8):497-506. [CrossRef]
3. Ou H, Kim E. Which short version of the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale to choose: SSQ5 or SSQ12. J Otorhinolaryngol Disord Treat. 2017;60(6):279-294.
4. Ahlstrom JB, Horwitz AR, Dubno JR. Spatial benefit of bilateral hearing aids. Ear Hear. 2009;30(2):203-218. [CrossRef]
5. Gatehouse S, Noble W. The speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ). Int J Audiol. 2004;43(2):85-99. [CrossRef]
6. Tyler RS, Perreau AE, Ji H. Validation of the spatial hearing questionnaire. Ear Hear. 2009;30(4):466-474. [CrossRef]
7. Hua H, Johansson B, Jönsson R, Magnusson L. Cochlear implant combined with a linear frequency transposing hearing aid. J Am Acad Audiol. 2012;23(9):722-732. [CrossRef]
8. Olsen SØ, Hernvig LH, Nielsen LH. Self-reported hearing performance among subjects with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Audiol Med. 2012;10(2):83-92. [CrossRef]
9. Noble W, Jensen NS, Naylor G, Bhullar N, Akeroyd MA. A short form of the speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale suitable for clinical use: the SSQ12. Int J Audiol. 2013;52(6):409-412. [CrossRef]
10. Kießling J, Grugel L, Meister H, et al. SSQ ins Deutsche und deren evaluation. Z Audiol. 2011;50(1):6-16.
11. Jensen N, Akeroyd M, Noble W, Naylor G, editors. The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ) as a benefit measure. NCRAR conference on The Ear-Brain System: Approaches to the Study and Treatment of Hearing Loss; 2009.
12. Kaiser HF. The application of electronic computers to factor analysis. Educ Psychol Meas. 1960;20(1):141-151. [CrossRef]
13. Miranda-Gonsalez ECd, Almeida Kd. Hearing disability measured by the speech, spatial and qualities of HEARing scale (SSQ): pilot study of a short version in Brazilian Portuguese. Audiol Commun Res. 2017;22. [CrossRef]
14. Singh G, Pichora-Fuller K. M. Older adults’ performance on the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ): test-retest reliability and a comparison of interview and self-administration methods. Int J Audiol. 2010;49(10):733-740.
15. Akeroyd MA, Guy FH, Harrison DL, Suller SL. A factor analysis of the SSQ (speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale). Int J Audiol. 2014;53(2):101-114. [CrossRef]
16. Ou H, Perreau A, Tyler RS. Development of a shortened version of the spatial HEARing questionnaire (SHQ-S) for screening spatial-hearing ability. Am J Audiol. 2017;26(3):293-300. [CrossRef]
17. Cañete OM, Marfull D, Torrente MC, Purdy SC. The Spanish 12-item version of the speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (sp- SSQ12): adaptation, reliability, and discriminant validity for people with and without hearing loss. Disabil Rehabil. 2020;42:1-8.
18. Kılıç N. Speech, spatial and quality of hearing scale (SSQ) for Turkish language and evaluation of adults with normal hearing and sensorineural hearing loss by SSQ [in Turkish] Gazi University Institute of Health Sciences. Normalization and Adaptation of MSc Thesis; 2017.