Turkish Adaptation of Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Psychometrics
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Hyperacusis, a condition of increased sound sensitivity, requires validated diagnostic tools.
• The Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) is a key instrument for assessing hyperacusis.
• Adapting existing tools into different languages enhances their clinical utility and accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate and culturally adapt the Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) into Turkish.
• To establish the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the HQ for clinical use.
• To investigate the psychometric properties of the adapted HQ in a Turkish population.

Main Methods:

• The Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to 529 participants.
• Statistical analyses included confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis (Cronbach's alpha), and correlation analysis.
• Participants were randomly selected from the general population, aged 18-73 years.

Main Results:

• The Turkish HQ demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.81).
• Factor analysis identified three subdimensions: attentional, social, and emotional, explaining 63% of the variance.
• A significant positive association was found between hyperacusis and anxiety (r=0.357, p<0.05).
• Individuals exposed to noise and those with decreased noise tolerance reported higher hyperacusis levels.

Conclusions:

• The 14-item, three-factor solution of the Turkish HQ is a valid and reliable diagnostic tool.
• The adapted questionnaire is suitable for use in the diagnosis and treatment of hyperacusis patients in Turkey.
• Findings support the link between hyperacusis, anxiety, and noise exposure.