Using BEAR data to obtain reduced versions of the SSQ-12 and IOI-HA-7 questionnaires

Authors

  • Tobias Piechowiak GN Store Nord A/S, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark
  • David Zapala Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA

Keywords:

Factor analysis, EMA, SSQ, IOI-HA, Questionnaires, Machine learning

Abstract

The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ-12) and the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA-7) are questionnaires containing 12 and 7 items, respectively. They are designed to subjectively assess hearing ability and are complementary to behavioral measures. Both questionnaires have been applied across a range of clinical and clinical research-related contexts, for example for assessing outcomes of e.g., cochlear implants and hearing aids. However, due to time constraints neither of the questionnaires seem to be an inherent part of standard clinical quality control. The Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) database contains SSQ- 12 and IOI-HA-7 scores of around 1600 subjects. Applying an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on the data from the 2nd visit allowed us to reduce the SSQ-12 to 5 questions and the IOI-HA to 3 remaining questions. The SSQ-5 explains 79% of the variance in the SSQ-12 data while the IOI-HA-3 accounts for 70% of the variance in the original IOI-HA-7. These new versions have the potential to be used more efficiently by shortening time and focusing on the items that are most effective to reflect individual benefit. Furthermore, the analysis seems to confirm the validity of such a reduction from similar findings in the literature that were done on different datasets.

Author Biography

David Zapala, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA

The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ-12) and the Inter-
national Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA-7) are questionnaires
containing 12 and 7 items, respectively. They are designed to subjectively
assess hearing ability and are complementary to behavioral measures. Both
questionnaires have been applied across a range of clinical and clinical
research-related contexts, for example for assessing outcomes of e.g. cochlear
implants and hearing aids. However, due to time constraints neither of the
questionnaires seem to be an inherent part of standard clinical quality control.
The Better Hearing Rehabilitation (BEAR) database contains SSQ-12 and
IOI-HA-7 scores of around 1600 subjects. Applying an Exploratory Factor
Analysis (EFA) on the data from the 2nd visit allowed us to reduce the SSQ-12
to 5 questions and the IOI-HA to 3 remaining questions. The SSQ-5 explains
79 % of the variance in the SSQ-12 data while the IOI-HA-3 accounts for
70 % of the variance in the original IOI-HA-7. These new versions have
the potential to be used more efficiently by shortening time and focusing on
the items that are most effective to reflect individual benefit. Furthermore,
the analysis seems to confirm the validity of such a reduction from similar
findings in the literature that were done on different datasets.

References

Akeroyd, M. A., Guy, F. H., Harrison, D. L., and Suller, S. L. (2014). “A factor analysis of the SSQ (Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale).,” Int. J. Audiol., 53(2), 101-114
Banh, J., Singh, G., and Pichora-Fuller, M. K. (2012). “Age affects reponses on the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ) by adults with minimal audiometric loss.,” J. Am. Acad. Audiol., 23, 81-91.
Cox, R., Hyde, M., Gatehouse, S., Noble, W., Dillon, H., Bentler, R., Stephens, D.,
Arlinger, S., Beck, L., Wilkerson, D., Kramer, S., Kricos, P., Gagne, J., Bess, F., and Hallberg, L. (2000). “Optimal outcome measures, research priorities, and international cooperation,” Ear Hear., 21, 106S-115S.
Deemester, K., Topsakal,V., Hendrickx, J-J, Fransen, E., Van Laer, L., and Van Camp, G. (2012). “Hearing disability measured by the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing scale in clinically normal-hearing and hearing-impaired middle-aged persons, and disability screening by means of a reduced SSQ (the SSQ5),” Ear Hear., 33, 615-626.
Dinno, A. (2014). “Gently Clarifying the Application of Horn’s Parallel Analysis to Principal Component Analysis Versus Factor Analysis,” unpublished, https:// alexisdinno.com/Software/files/PA_for_PCA_vs_FA.pdf
Erixon, E., and Rask-Andersen, H. (2015). “Hearing and Patient Satisfaction Among 19 Patients Who Received Implants Intended for Hybrid Hearing: A Two-Year Follow-Up,” Ear Hear., 36, 271-8.
Fuller, C., Free, R., Maat, B., and Bas ̧kent, D. (2012). “Musical background not associated with self-perceived hearing performance or speech perception in postlingual cochlear-implant users.,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 132, 1009-1016.
Gatehouse, S., and Noble, W. (2004). “The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ),” Int. J. Audiol., 43, 85-99.
Hastie, T., Tibshirani, R., and Friedman, J. (2008). “Elements of Statistical Learning,” Springer Series in Statistics.
Hua H., Johansson B., Jo ̈nsson R., and Magnusson, L. (2012). “Cochlear implant combined with a linear frequency transposing hearing aid.,” J. Am. Acad. Audiol., 23, 722-732.
Laske R. D., Veraguth D., Dillier N., Binkert A., Holzmann D., and Huber, A. M. (2009). “Subjective and objective results after bilateral cochlear implantation in adults.,” Otol. Neurotol., 30, 313-318.
Moulin, A., Vergne, J., Gallego, S. and Micheyl, C. (2019). “A new speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale short-form: factor, cluster, and comparative analyses,” Ear Hear., 40(4), 938-950.
Noble, W. (2002). “Extending the IOI to significant others and to non-hearing-aid- based interventions,” Int. J. Audiol., 41, 27-9.
Noble, W., Jensen N. S., Naylor G., Bhullar N., and Akeroyd, M. A. (2013). “A short form of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing scale suitable for clinical use: The SSQ12,” Int. J. Audiol., 52, 409-412.
Olsen S. O., Hernvig L. H., and Nielsen, L. H. (2012). “Self-reported hearing performance among subjects with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.,” Audiol. Med., 10, 83-92.
The R Core Team. (2017). “R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing,” R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna Austria.

Additional Files

Published

2020-05-01

How to Cite

Piechowiak, T., & Zapala, D. (2020). Using BEAR data to obtain reduced versions of the SSQ-12 and IOI-HA-7 questionnaires. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 7, 237–264. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2019-29

Issue

Section

2019/4. Novel directions in hearing-instrument technology