Development of the communication profile for the hearing impaired

The rehabilitative needs of hearing-impaired adults depend on the degree of communication handicap experienced and on many other factors (environmental, behavioral, emotional, and attitudinal) that contribute to communication problems. The Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI) is a 145-item self-assessment inventory for adults. Its 25 scales encompass four areas: Communication Performance, Communication Environment, Communication Strategies, and Personal Adjustment. The inventory was developed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and pilot tested over a 3-year period on 827 patients who attended the Aural Rehabilitation Program at the Army Audiology and Speech Center. The rationale and methods used to develop the CPHI are discussed, and normative data for the Walter Reed population are presented.