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Making Sense of Listening: The IMAP Test Battery
Published on: October 11, 2010
Readability of questionnaires assessing listening difficulties associated with (central) auditory processing
Samuel R Atcherson1, Cynthia M Richburg, Richard I Zraick
1University of Arkansas at Little Rock/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA. sratcherson@ualr.edu
Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools
|October 18, 2012
Summary
Readability of auditory processing disorder questionnaires was assessed. Most questionnaires require an 8th-10th grade reading level, potentially impacting patient understanding and participation.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Health Literacy
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) affects how the brain interprets sounds.
- Questionnaires are crucial for diagnosing CAPD, but their readability can impact data accuracy.
- Assessing questionnaire readability is vital for effective patient communication and data collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the readability of eight English-language questionnaires for (central) auditory processing disorders (C)APD.
- To compare readability levels against intended age groups for student-administered tools.
- To assess proxy-administered questionnaires against adult health literacy standards.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study analyzed eight (C)APD questionnaires.
- Readability was calculated using FORCAST, Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), and Gunning's Fog index (FOG) formulas.
- FORCAST is suitable for non-narrative text, while FRE and FOG are for narrative materials.
Main Results:
- The FORCAST formula indicated all questionnaires were at an 8th- to 10th-grade reading level.
- FRE and FOG formulas showed wide variability, from 4th to 12th grade.
- Readability levels may pose challenges for some respondents.
Conclusions:
- Developers should treat readability as a psychometric construct to reduce respondent burden.
- Clinicians must consider adult proxy respondents' health literacy skills.
- Improving questionnaire readability can enhance data quality and patient engagement.
