Cross-Cultural Validation and Psychometric Assessment of the Persian Version of Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index for Adult Cochlear Implant Users

Hossein  Bagheripour; Nader  Saki; Amal  Saki; Arash  Bayat

doi:10.18502/avr.v35i1.20582

Hossein Bagheripour Hearing Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Nader Saki Hearing Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Amal Saki Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Arash Bayat Hearing Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/avr.v35i1.20582

Keywords: Adult; cochlear implant; Persian; sound quality

Abstract

Background and Aim: Cochlear Implants (CIs) can successfully improve the speech and auditory perception in patients with a severe to profound hearing loss. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (P HISQUI19) for measuring the perceived auditory benefits of Iranian adult CI users in everyday listening situations.

Methods: Participants included 70 Iranian CI users with post-lingual deafness aged 18–64 years. After translation and cross-cultural adaptation, the content and construct validity of the P HISQUI19 were examined, followed by internal consistency and test–retest reliability assessments using Cronbach’s α and Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient (ICC), respectively.

Results: The mean total P HISQUI19 score was 78.22, indicating a moderate sound quality perception. The P HISQUI19 had excellent internal consistency (Guttman’s split- half coefficient=0.912; Cronbach’s α=0.956) and test-retest reliability (ICC=0.962). Using factor analysis, the items were loaded on three factors. Age at implantation, duration of deafness, side of implantation, gender, and MED EL implant system (CONCERTO Mi1000 vs. SONATA Ti100) did not significantly affect the sound quality perception.

Conclusion: The P HISQUI19 is a valid and reliable tool to be used in both research and clinical settings for evaluating the auditory benefits of Iranian adults using CI.