A short form of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale suitable for clinical use: The SSQ12

Abstract

Objective-To develop and evaluate a 12-item version of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale for use in clinical research and rehabilitation settings, and provide a formula for converting scores between the full (SSQ49) and abbreviated (SSQ12) versions.Design-Items were selected independently at the three centres (Eriksholm, MRC Institute of Hearing Research, University of New England) to be representative of the complete scale. A consensus was achieved after discussion.Study Sample-The data set (n=1220) used for a factor analysis (Akeroyd et al., submitted) was re-analysed to compare original SSQ scores (SSQ49) with scores on the short version (SSQ12).Results-A scatter-plot of SSQ12 scores against SSQ49 scores showed that SSQ12 score was about 0.6 of a scale point lower than the SSQ49 (0-10 scale) in the re-analysis of the Akeroyd et al. data. SSQ12 scores lay on a slightly steeper slope than scores on the SSQ49. Conclusions-The SSQ12 provides similar results to SSQ49 in a large clinical research sample. The slightly lower average SSQ12 score and the slightly steeper slope reflect the composition of this short form relative to the SSQ49.

Proposed norms for the Glasgow hearing-aid benefit profile (Ghabp) questionnaire

“…The hearing-aid responses, however, suggest caution in interpreting group-average outcomes. A subsequent questionnaire, the Speech, Spatial and Quality of Life Questionnaire, has shown utility in parsing systematic differences (Noble & Gatehouse, 2006), and it or its abbreviated version (Noble et al, 2013) is recommended when the group differences are under scrutiny. Nevertheless, as a short-form method to discuss intervention with an individual patient, the GHABP still has merit.…”

Incapacidade auditiva medida por meio do questionário Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ): estudo piloto da versão reduzida em Português Brasileiro

“…The translation and cultural adaptation of the 49-item SSQ questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese has shown good conceptual and semantic equivalence for the items (10) . In an effort to overcome the drawback of the long time needed to apply the full version of the SSQ (49 questions, amounting to over 1000 words), short forms of the instrument have been devised (12,16,17) . A 12-item version of the SSQ was developed based on a multi-center experience and factor analysis (12) .…”

“…In an effort to overcome the drawback of the long time needed to apply the full version of the SSQ (49 questions, amounting to over 1000 words), short forms of the instrument have been devised (12,16,17) . A 12-item version of the SSQ was developed based on a multi-center experience and factor analysis (12) . The literature reports numerous studies showing the effectiveness of the short versions, providing highly similar results compared to the original versions.…”

“…With the aim of achieving rapid assessments aiding the treatment of hearing-impaired individuals in routine clinical practice, a short 12-item version of the SSQ (SSQ12) (12) was developed based on experience from the use of the full scalethe SSQ49. The results of studies of the short version showed that it closely concurred in its average performance with the SSQ49 (13) .…”

Privacy-Aware Acoustic Assessments of Everyday Life

“…In order to monitor people's behavior and their perception, many studies are based on questionnaires that are filled in afterwards in the test laboratory or completed in the evening at home (e.g., [15,3]). Unfortunately, these methods are prone to subjective or even wrong memories.…”