Psychometric evaluation of a Norwegian version of the Communication Strategies Scale of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the Communication Strategies Scale (CSS) in an adult Norwegian sample with hearing loss.


METHODS
Of 474 invited patients, a total of 337 consecutive adults admitted to the outpatient Unit of Audiology, ENT Department of a university hospital answered the CSS of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired. The inventory assesses the use of three specific coping strategies; Maladaptive Behaviour, Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Strategies. The psychometric evaluation included construct validity by corrected item-total correlation, the internal consistency reliability by coefficient alpha (Cronbach's) and standard error of the measurement (SEM). Internal structure was evaluated by factor analyses using principal factors followed by a varimax rotation.


RESULTS
CSS showed good psychometric properties with acceptable and good internal consistency reliability for the subscales. The internal structure of the entire scale gave main loadings at 24 of 25 items at the same factor as the original one.


CONCLUSIONS
CSS may well be used as a clinical tool in the routine assessment of maladaptive and adaptive communication strategies in an unselected adult population of hearing impaired outpatients.
Helvik
Anne-Sofie
AS
Ear, Nose and Throat Department, St Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. Anne-Sofie.Helvi@ntnu.no
Thürmer
Hanne
H
Jacobsen
Geir W
GW
Bratt
Mette
M
Hallberg
Lillemor R-M
LR
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D009664:Norway; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014705:Verbal Behavior