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Development and validation of a paediatric version of the Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire for children with and
Tana B Carson1, Yuxi Qiu2, Lu Liang3
1Department of Occupational Therapy, Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
Insights
A new tool, the paediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ), was developed to measure hyperacusis in children. This validated questionnaire shows promise for identifying decreased sound tolerance in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Hyperacusis, a form of decreased sound tolerance (DST), affects 3.2-17.1% of children, with higher prevalence in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Existing hyperacusis measures lack validation for paediatric populations, creating a significant measurement gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a paediatric version of the Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ).
- To address the need for a reliable tool to assess hyperacusis in children, particularly those with ASD.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional design was employed to evaluate therapist opinions and field test the paediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ) with parents.
- Psychometric analyses were conducted on data from 11 paediatric therapists, 64 parents of children with ASD, and 37 parents of children without ASD.
Main Results:
- The P-HQ demonstrated a unidimensional construct with items relevant to hyperacusis and adequate psychometric properties.
- The P-HQ exhibited good internal consistency, suggesting its utility as a screening tool.
Conclusions:
- The paediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ) is a promising tool for identifying decreased sound tolerance (DST) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Further research is recommended to establish normative data and validate cut-off scores for the P-HQ.
Objective:
Hyperacusis is reported to occur in 3.2-17.1% of the general paediatric population with higher rates in clinical populations such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although hyperacusis is a relatively common form of decreased sound tolerance (DST), no valid paediatric hyperacusis measures are currently available. The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a paediatric version of the Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) as a first step towards filling this measurement gap.
Design:
A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate therapist opinions of the paediatric version (P-HQ) and to field test the P-HQ in parents of children with and without ASD. Total scores were compared between ASD and non-ASD groups.
Study Sample:
Eleven paediatric occupational and speech therapists with expertise in ASD, 64 parents of children with ASD and 37 parents of children without ASD completed online questionnaires. Psychometric analyses were conducted.
Results:
A unidimensional construct was found underlying P-HQ and all items displayed sufficient theoretical relevance to hyperacusis and adequate psychometric properties.
Conclusions:
The P-HQ demonstrates good internal consistency and shows promise as a potential screening tool for identifying DST in ASD. Further research is warranted to establish normative data and validate cut-off scores.
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