Development and psychometric evaluation of a health-related quality of life instrument for individuals with adult-onset hearing loss.
Self-reports of 'hearing handicap' are available, but a comprehensive measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for individuals with adult-onset hearing loss (AOHL) does not exist. Our objective was to develop and evaluate a multidimensional HRQOL instrument for individuals with AOHL.



The Impact of Hearing Loss Inventory Tool (IHEAR-IT) was developed using results of focus groups, a literature review, advisory expert panel input, and cognitive interviews.



The 73-item field-test instrument was completed by 409 adults (22-91 years old) with varying degrees of AOHL and from different areas of the USA.



Multitrait scaling analysis supported four multi-item scales and five individual items. Internal consistency reliabilities ranged from 0.93 to 0.96 for the scales. Construct validity was supported by correlations between the IHEAR-IT scales and scores on the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, version 2.0 (SF-36v2) mental composite summary (r = 0.32-0.64) and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly/Adults (HHIE/HHIA) (r ≥ -0.70).



The field test provides initial support for the reliability and construct validity of the IHEAR-IT for evaluating HRQOL of individuals with AOHL. Further research is needed to evaluate the responsiveness to change of the IHEAR-IT scales and identify items for a short-form.
a School of Speech Language & Hearing Sciences , San Diego State University , San Diego , USA ;
Carren J
CJ
Stika
b Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research , University of California , Los Angeles , USA.
Ron D
RD
Hays
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Hearing loss; functioning; health-related quality of life; well-being