title: Sources of variability of speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ) scores in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and quantify sources of variability in scores on the speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ) and its short forms among normal-hearing and hearing-impaired subjects using a French-language version of the SSQ.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-regression analyses of SSQ scores were performed using age, gender, years of education, hearing loss, and hearing-loss asymmetry as predictors. Similar analyses were performed for each subscale (Speech, Spatial, and Qualities), for several SSQ short forms, and for differences in subscale scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred normal-hearing subjects (NHS) and 230 hearing-impaired subjects (HIS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hearing loss in the better ear and hearing-loss asymmetry were the two main predictors of scores on the overall SSQ, the three main subscales, and the SSQ short forms. The greatest difference between the NHS and HIS was observed for the Speech subscale, and the NHS showed scores well below the maximum of 10. An age effect was observed mostly on the Speech subscale items, and the number of years of education had a significant influence on several Spatial and Qualities subscale items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strong similarities between SSQ scores obtained across different populations and languages, and between SSQ and short forms, underline their potential international use.
authors.affiliation: a Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, -Brain Dynamics and Cognition Team , Lyon , France.|b University Lyon 1 , Lyon , France.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.affiliation: c Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , University Hospital (CHUV) , Lausanne , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004522:Educational Status; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Self-report measure; and qualities of hearing scale; hearing disability; hearing loss; short form; spatial; spatial hearing; speech