The effect of hearing impairment in older people on the spouse: Development and psychometric testing of The Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR)

Abstract

The effects of hearing impairment on the person with the impairment and on their significant others are pervasive and affect the quality of life for all involved. The effect of hearing impairment on significant others is known as a third-party disability. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically test a scale to measure the third-party disability experienced by spouses of older people with hearing impairment. The Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR) was based on results of a previous qualitative study investigating the effect of hearing impairment on a spouse's everyday life. Psychometric testing with 100 spouses was conducted using item analysis, Cronbach's alpha, factor analysis, and test-retest reliability. Principal components analysis identified six key underlying factors. A combined set of 27 items was found to be reliable (alpha = 0.94), with weighted kappa for items ranging from fair to very good. The SOS-HEAR is a brief, easy to administer instrument that has evidence of reliability and validity. The SOS-HEAR could serve as a means of identifying spouses of older people with hearing impairment in need of intervention, directed towards either the couple or the spouse alone.

Family member involvement in audiology appointments with older people with hearing impairment

“…There is a small but growing body of research into the impact of hearing diffi culties on the family members and core conversational partners of people with hearing impairment (Armero, 2001;Brooks et al, 2001;Hallberg & Barren ä s, 1993;Hallberg, 1999;H é tu et al, 1993, 1988Jones et al, 1987;Scarinci et al, 2008Scarinci et al, , 2009aScarinci et al, , 2009bStark & Hickson, 2004;Wallhagen et al, 2004). This body of research has found that family members can experience considerable communication diffi culties, psychosocial stresses, reduced intimacy in the relationship with the person with hearing impairment, and decreased quality of life.…”

Predictors of Rehabilitation Intervention Decisions in Adults With Acquired Hearing Impairment

“…In the present study, the hearing disability perceived by others and self Intervention Questionnaire component-consisting of three items focusing on others' perception of the hearing disability and one item on self-perception of hearing disability (see Table 1)-was associated with intervention decisions, whereas scores on the HHQ were not. This suggests that a hearing disability's impact on others (Scarinci, Worrall, & Hickson, 2009) is central to intervention decisions for adults with acquired hearing impairment. The literature is unequivocal on the positive relationship between selfreported hearing disability and hearing help seeking and hearing aid uptake (e.g., Davis, Smith, Ferguson, Stephens, & Gianopoulos, 2007;Duijvestijn et al, 2003;Humes, Wilson, & Humes, 2003;Meister, Walger, Brehmer, von Wedel, & von Wedel, 2008;Stephens, Meredith, Callaghan, Hogan, & Rayment, 1990;Swan & Gatehouse, 1990;van den Brink et al, 1996).…”

Third-Party Disability in Spouses of Older People With Hearing Impairment

“…In a series of studies, Scarinci, Worrall, and Hickson (2008, 2009a, 2009b demonstrated that older spouses experience third-party hearing disability as a result of their partners' hearing impairment. A literature review documented the lack of research on problems faced by significant others of older people with hearing impairment, providing a rationale for further investigation (Donaldson, Worrall, & Hickson, 2004).…”

“…Further investigation is needed to establish the reliability of the instrument (Scarinci et al, 2009a).…”