Psychometric evaluation of a Norwegian version of the Communication Strategies Scale of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the Communication Strategies Scale (CSS) in an adult Norwegian sample with hearing loss. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Of 474 invited patients, a total of 337 consecutive adults admitted to the outpatient Unit of Audiology, ENT Department of a university hospital answered the CSS of the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired. The inventory assesses the use of three specific coping strategies; Maladaptive Behaviour, Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Strategies. The psychometric evaluation included construct validity by corrected item-total correlation, the internal consistency reliability by coefficient alpha (Cronbach's) and standard error of the measurement (SEM). Internal structure was evaluated by factor analyses using principal factors followed by a varimax rotation. RESULTS: CSS showed good psychometric properties with acceptable and good internal consistency reliability for the subscales. The internal structure of the entire scale gave main loadings at 24 of 25 items at the same factor as the original one. CONCLUSION: CSS may well be used as a clinical tool in the routine assessment of maladaptive and adaptive communication strategies in an unselected adult population of hearing impaired outpatients.