Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire: Psychometric Evaluation and Revision

Elin Karlsson; Vinaya Manchaiah; Elina Mäki-Torkko; Sarah Granberg; Johanna Gustafsson; Örjan Dahlström; Stephen Widén

doi:10.1044/2024_AJA-23-00171

Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire: Psychometric Evaluation and Revision

Am J Audiol. 2024 Mar 18:1-13. doi: 10.1044/2024_AJA-23-00171. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Elin Karlsson^{1

2

3}, Vinaya Manchaiah^{4

5

6

7

8}, Elina Mäki-Torkko^{1

9}, Sarah Granberg^{1

2}, Johanna Gustafsson^{1

2

10}, Örjan Dahlström^{11

12}, Stephen Widén^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Audiological Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden.
² Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden.
³ Swedish Institute of Disability Research (SIDR), Örebro University, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora.
⁵ UCHealth Hearing and Balance, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora.
⁶ Virtual Hearing Lab, Aurora, CO.
⁷ Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
⁸ Department of Speech and Hearing, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India.
⁹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden.
¹⁰ Centre for the Study of Professions, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway.
¹¹ Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Sweden.
¹² Swedish Institute of Disability Research (SIDR), Linköping University, Sweden.

PMID: 38497711
DOI: 10.1044/2024_AJA-23-00171

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to explore the construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based original English version of the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) and to revise the HFEQ based on the results.

Method: This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The data were collected using an online survey. Adults with self-reported hearing disability (n = 513) from the United States were included. The ICF components of body functions, activity and participation, and environmental factors were tested as the underlying structure of the HFEQ using confirmatory factor analysis and then adjusted by triangulation with previous content validation.

Results: The results of the current study confirmed the ICF components of body functions, activity and participation, and environmental factors as underlying constructs of the HFEQ. However, after triangulation with previous content validation, fine adjustments were made. The revised version of the HFEQ includes two removed items and a fine-tuned factor structure.

Conclusion: The results confirm that the structure of the HFEQ aligns with the ICF, and the overall results indicate that HFEQ has acceptable construct validity and internal consistency.