title: Use of self-assessment inventories in hearing-aid provision: German versions of ECHO and SADL.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study presents German versions of the ECHO (expected consequences of hearing aid ownership) and SADL (satisfaction with amplification in daily life) self-assessment inventories ( Cox et al, 1999 , 2000 ).
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaires were administered to a group of 290 hearing-aid candidates (ECHO) and 462 experienced hearing-aid users (SADL) recruited at different audiological centres in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  The psychometric properties of the German versions and the original questionnaires were similar as confirmed by factor analysis and internal consistency analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When comparing outcomes for the ECHO and SADL inventories from the two study groups it was found that satisfaction outperformed expectations. In addition, the relationships of the questionnaire subscales with personality traits as measured with the Big Five inventory were examined. Certain weak though statistically significant correlations were found revealing that personality in hearing-impaired persons does not greatly affect ECHO and SADL outcomes. In contrast, ECHO subscale scores were clearly associated with the motivation to use amplification and might thus help to detect non-adherents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings, along with the fact that pre-fitting expectations can be directly compared to post-fitting satisfaction, makes the application of the ECHO and SADL inventories highly valuable in rehabilitative audiology.
authors.affiliation: Jean Uhrmacher Institute for Clinical ENT Research, University of Cologne, Germany. hartmut.meister@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grugel
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meis
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires