scholarly journals The HEAR-QL: Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children with Hearing Loss

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 644-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy M. Umansky ◽  
Donna B. Jeffe ◽  
Judith E.C. Lieu

Background: Few quality of life (QOL) assessment tools are available for children with specific chronic conditions, and none have been designed specifically for children with hearing loss (HL). A validated hearing-related QOL questionnaire could help clinicians determine whether an intervention is beneficial and whether one intervention is better than another. Purpose: To examine QOL in children with HL and assess the validity, reliability, and factor structure of a new measure, the Hearing Environments and Reflection on Quality of Life (HEAR-QL) questionnaire. Research Design: A descriptive and correlational study of a convenience sample of children. Study Sample: Participants included 35 children with unilateral HL, 45 with bilateral HL, and 35 siblings with normal hearing. Data Collection and Analysis: Children 7–12 yr old were recruited by mail from a tertiary-care pediatric otolaryngology practice and the local county's Special School District. With parent consent, children completed the validated Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL) 4.0 and a 35-item HEAR-QL questionnaire. The factor structure of the HEAR-QL was determined through principal components analysis (PCA), and mean scores were computed for each subscale and the total HEAR-QL. Three weeks following the return of the initial questionnaires, a second HEAR-QL questionnaire was sent to participants to assess test–retest reliability. Both PedsQL and HEAR-QL scores were compared between children with and without HL, between children with unilateral and bilateral HL, and between children who used and did not use a hearing device using analysis of variance. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for both the HEAR-QL and the PedsQL. A multivariable, hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted with independent variables associated with the HEAR-QL in unadjusted tests. Results: Using exploratory PCA, the 35-item HEAR-QL was reduced to 26 items (Cronbach's α = 0.97, sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 92% at a cutoff score of 93.5) loading on three factors: difficulty hearing in certain environments/situations (Environments α = 0.97), impact of HL on social/sports activities (Activities α = 0.92), and impact of HL on child's feelings (Feelings α = 0.88). Sensitivity of 78.8% and specificity of 30.9% at a cutoff score of 69.6 on the PedsQL (at risk for impaired QOL) were lower than for the HEAR-QL. Participants with HL reported significantly lower mean total HEAR-QL scores (71 [SD 18] vs. 98 [SD 5], p < .001), but not mean total PedsQL scores (77 [SD 14] vs. 83 [SD 15], p = .47), than participants with normal hearing. Among children with bilateral HL, children who used a hearing device reported lower mean total HEAR-QL scores (p = .01), but not mean total PedsQL scores (p = .55), than children who did not use a hearing device. The intraclass correlation coefficient for test–retest reliability for the 26-item HEAR-QL total score was 0.83. Hearing status and use of a device were independently associated with the HEAR-QL, and the variables in the model accounted for 46% of the HEAR-QL total score variance. Conclusions: The HEAR-QL appears to be a valid, reliable, and sensitive questionnaire for children with HL. The HEAR-QL was better able than the PedsQL to distinguish between children with and without HL and can help evaluate interventions for children with HL.

2019 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evette A. Ronner ◽  
Liliya Benchetrit ◽  
Patricia Levesque ◽  
Razan A. Basonbul ◽  
Michael S. Cohen

Objective To assess quality of life (QOL) in pediatric patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) and the Hearing Environments and Reflection on Quality of Life 26 (HEAR-QL-26) and HEAR-QL-28 surveys. Study Design Prospective longitudinal study. Setting Tertiary care center. Subjects and Methods Surveys were administered to patients with SNHL (ages 2-18 years) from July 2016 to December 2018 at a multidisciplinary hearing loss clinic. Patients aged >7 years completed the HEAR-QL-26, HEAR-QL-28, and PedsQL 4.0 self-report tool, while parents completed the PedsQL 4.0 parent proxy report for children aged ≤7 years. Previously published data from children with normal hearing were used for controls. The independent t test was used for analysis. Results In our cohort of 100 patients, the mean age was 7.7 years (SD, 4.5): 62 participants had bilateral SNHL; 63 had mild to moderate SNHL; and 37 had severe to profound SNHL. Sixty-eight patients used a hearing device. Mean (SD) total survey scores for the PedsQL 4.0 (ages 2-7 and 8-18 years), HEAR-QL-26 (ages 7-12 years), and HEAR-QL-28 (ages 13-18 years) were 83.9 (14.0), 79.2 (11.1), 81.2 (9.8), and 77.5 (11.3), respectively. Mean QOL scores for patients with SNHL were significantly lower than those for controls on the basis of previously published normative data ( P < .0001). There was no significant difference in QOL between children with unilateral and bilateral SNHL or between children with SNHL who did and did not require a hearing device. Low statistical power due to small subgroup sizes limited our analysis. Conclusion It is feasible to collect QOL data from children with SNHL in a hearing loss clinic. Children with SNHL had significantly lower scores on validated QOL instruments when compared with peers with normal hearing.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 807-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill E. Preminger ◽  
Suzanne Meeks

Background: Third-party hearing loss-related quality of life (HLQoL) reports measure the third-party disability as a result of communicating regularly with someone with hearing loss. Scales with known psychometric characteristics validated on a diverse subject population are needed in order to describe the activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced by spouses as a result of living with an individual with hearing loss. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to develop a scale to measure third-party HLQoL in spouses of people with hearing loss with acceptable psychometric characteristics. This scale is known as the Hearing Impairment Impact–Significant Other Profile (HII-SOP). Research Design: In Study 1, the initial test items were developed and evaluated with a factor analysis for adequate construct validity. In Study 2, the internal consistency reliability, the validity, and the test-retest reliability of the revised test were evaluated. Study Sample: In Study 1, 120 people between 34 and 87 yr of age participated and in Study 2, 164 people between 23 and 88 yr of age participated. Data Collection and Analysis: In Study 1, a 41-item questionnaire was developed based on five content areas: physical adjustment, social activities, emotional reaction, intimate relationship, and change in roles. The scale was submitted to a factor analysis to analyze interrelationships among items, determine the underlying dimensions, and select items for the final scale. In Study 2, the internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and test-retest reliability were evaluated in the revised 20-item questionnaire. The internal-consistency reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha. Validity was assessed by observing the correlations of the new scale with well-established scales measuring related constructs: overall health-related quality of life, marital communication, HLQoL, and negative affect, in both the person with hearing loss and the spouse. Test-retest reliability was measured in a subset of the spouses who completed the HII-SOP between 2 and 4 wk after the initial scale was completed. Results: The HII-SOP is a 20-item scale with three subscales which measure: (1) the emotions that arise when having a spouse with hearing loss as well as the impact of the hearing loss on the marital relationship, (2) the impact of the hearing loss on the social life of the spouse, and (3) the communication strategies used by the spouse. The scale and its subscales have adequate internal-consistency reliability suggesting that the 20 items do measure a single construct and the subscales do measure distinct subconstructs. The HII-SOP scale was significantly correlated with measures expected to relate to the construct of third-party disability associated with hearing loss. Finally, the HII-SOP scale has adequate test-retest reliability (r = 0.90) and the 95% critical differences is 19.7 points. Conclusions: The HII-SOP is a scale to measure third-party HLQoL in spouses of individuals with hearing loss. Scores of 20–39 reflect mild third-party disability, scores of 40–59 reflect moderate third-party disability, and scores >60 reflect severe third-party disability associated with hearing loss.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Barzegar Bafrooei ◽  
Seyyed Ahmadreza Khatoonabadi ◽  
Saman Maroufizadeh ◽  
Jalal Bakhtiyari ◽  
Ali rajaee

Background: Oropharyngeal dysphagia harms all aspects of a person’s life, including behaviors, activities, and social situations. Quality of life is a multidimensional concept. The dysphagia handicap index (DHI) is a patient-reported outcomes tool that evaluates the different dimensions of quality of life in three physical, emotional, and functional factors in English-speaking countries. The validity of the Persian version of the dysphagia handicap index (DHI) has been evaluated in a study, but the reliability and factor analysis of the Persian version has not been investigated in any study. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the factor structure analysis and reliability of the Persian version of the dysphagia handicap index (P-DHI). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia (mean age 55.69 ± 15.04, 53 women) completed the dysphagia handicap index (DHI). The severity of dysphagia was defined as follows: 1 for no dysphagia (normal), 2 and 3 for mild, 4, and 5 for moderate and 6 and 7for severe. Construct validity was examined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were performed to evaluate the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the P-DHI, respectively. Results: The results of CFA provided support for a second-order three-factor model of P-DHI (χ2 = 484.61, df = 273, (P = 0.0001), χ2/df = 1.77; CFI = 0.901; RMSEA = 0.088 and SRMR = 0.010). The Cronbach’s alpha for physical, functional, and emotional subscales and total score were 0.751, 0.836, 0.773, and 0.900, respectively. The test-retest reliability of the P-DHI for the total score and subscales was high (ICC: 0.952 - 0.988). Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the P-DHI total score and self-reported severity of dysphagia (P = 0.0001), while there were no relationships between P-DHI total score and age (P = 0.223), sex (P = 0.936), level of education (P = 0.113), disease duration (P = 0.126). Conclusions: The P-DHI is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the disabling effects of swallowing disorders on the one’s Quality of Life in Iranian patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia due to a variety of diseases. Also, the CFA findings provide support for the tree-factor structure of the P-DHI and the use of the subscales as distinct variables.


2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jantina L. van der Velde ◽  
Bertine M. J. Flokstra-de Blok ◽  
Berber J. Vlieg-Boerstra ◽  
Joanne N. G. Oude Elberink ◽  
Jan P. Schouten ◽  
...  

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 441
Author(s):  
Laura Quellhorst ◽  
Grit Barten-Neiner ◽  
Andrés de Roux ◽  
Roland Diel ◽  
Pontus Mertsch ◽  
...  

Patients with bronchiectasis feature considerable symptom burden and reduced health-related quality of life (QOL). We provide the psychometric validation of the German translation of the disease-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bronchiectasis (QOL-B), version 3.1, using baseline data of adults consecutively enrolled into the prospective German bronchiectasis registry PROGNOSIS. Overall, 904 patients with evaluable QOL-B scores were included. We observed no relevant floor or ceiling effects. Internal consistency was good to excellent (Cronbach’s α ≥0.73 for each scale). QOL-B scales discriminated between patients based on prior pulmonary exacerbations and hospitalizations, breathlessness, bronchiectasis severity index, lung function, sputum volume, Pseudomonas aeruginosa status and the need for regular pharmacotherapy, except for Social Functioning, Vitality and Emotional Functioning scales. We observed moderate to strong convergence between several measures of disease severity and QOL-B scales, except for Social and Emotional Functioning. Two-week test-retest reliability was good, with intraclass correlation coefficients ≥0.84 for each scale. Minimal clinical important difference ranged between 8.5 for the Respiratory Symptoms and 14.1 points for the Social Functioning scale. Overall, the German translation of the QOL-B, version 3.1, has good validity and test-retest reliability among a nationally representative adult bronchiectasis cohort. However, responsiveness of QOL-B scales require further investigation during registry follow-up.


2021 ◽  
Vol Publish Ahead of Print ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy L. Zhang ◽  
Brandon Malik Wahba ◽  
Judith E.C. Lieu

1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1249-1254 ◽  
Author(s):  
M J Hjermstad ◽  
S D Fossa ◽  
K Bjordal ◽  
S Kaasa

PURPOSE The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) is a well-validated instrument that assesses health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer patients. It is used in cancer clinical trials in Europe, Canada, and the United States, and has demonstrated high reliability and validity in different groups of cancer patients. Despite thorough testing of reliability and validity, we have not identified any reports on its test/retest reliability; thus, a test/retest study was performed at the Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH). MATERIALS AND METHODS Cancer patients from the outpatient clinic who were off treatment for > or = 3 months were eligible for the study. The EORTC QLQ-C30 was given to the patients when they presented for their visit. The second questionnaire was received by the patients 4 days later. Of 291 eligible patients, 270 (93%) agreed to participate and 190 (73%) completed both questionnaires. RESULTS The test/retest reliability measured by Pearson's correlation coefficient was high for all functional scales, with a range from .82 for cognitive and role function to .91 for physical function. The r value for global HRQOL was .85. For the symptom scales--nausea/vomiting, fatigue, and pain--the coefficients were .63, .83, and .86, respectively. The single-item coefficients ranged from .72 for diarrhea to .84 for financial impact. The Spearman rank correlation was in the same range for all dimensions. CONCLUSION The EORTC QLQ-C30 seems to yield high test/retest reliability in patients with various cancer diagnoses whose condition is not expected to change during the time of measurement.


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