Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the abbreviated profile of hearing aid benefit questionnaire with a sample of Sinhala speaking adult hearing aid users in Sri Lanka.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hearing aid amplification plays a crucial role in audiological rehabilitation. The quantification of the benefit of hearing aids in further enhancement is necessary for effective management. The Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) is one of the most widely used self-report questionnaires, used to quantify disability subjectively in everyday life caused by hearing loss as well as to examine the effect of hearing aid intervention in adult hearing aid users. OBJECTIVE/ The purpose of this study was to translate, cross-culturally adapt and validate the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (ABHAB) questionnaire in Sinhala. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to pre-test the validity of the translated ABHAB questionnaire. Authorization from the original authors of the questionnaire was sought and gained. The APHAB was translated into Sinhala and 30 adult participants (male = 56.7% and female = 43.3%) were recruited with a mean age 60.4 years to assess its face validity. The content validation of the APHAB questionnaire was assessed by the degree of relevance and the cultural appropriateness. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated by using item – CVI (I-CVI) and scale – CVI (S-CVI). S-CVI was calculated under Scale CVI Average (S-CVI/AVE) and Scale -CVI Universal Agreement (S-CVI/UA) RESULTS: The obtained responses for face validity indicated a high percentage of agreement. Obtained ICVI for degree of relevance was greater than 0.79 for all the items in the questionnaire, S-CVI/AVE indicated an excellent content validity as it obtained 0.94, while the S-CVI/UA value was lower than 0.8, was not indicated an excellent content validity. For cultural appropriateness, 21 items obtained an I-CVI value greater than 0.79 as relevant items; 3 items obtained values lower than 0.70. As S-CVI/AVE and SCVI/ UA values did not indicated a good content validity for cultural appropriateness, modifications were applied to the items that obtained lower I-CVI values by conducting a review. CONCLUSION/S: The translated, culturally adapted and validated APHAB questionnaire in Sinhala, is a simple and quick instrument to measure the self-reported effectiveness of hearing aids use by people with hearing loss in Sri Lanka. Thus, it can be used in aural rehabilitation and to direct people to relevant therapeutic approaches.