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Persian Pediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire: Translation and Psychometric Evaluation in Children with and Without
Farnaz Fathollahzadeh1, Mahdi Azizi2, Ahmadreza Nazeri2
1*Student Research Committee, Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Hyperacusis, a sound sensitivity disorder, affects children with autism. A new Persian questionnaire (P-HQ-P) shows good reliability and validity for assessing hyperacusis prevalence in Iranian children, with 38.3% of autistic children affected.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Hyperacusis is a disorder characterized by reduced sound tolerance.
- Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently exhibit hyperacusis symptoms.
- This comorbidity negatively impacts children's social development and adaptability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To translate and psychometrically evaluate the Persian version of the Pediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ-P).
- To determine the prevalence of hyperacusis in children with and without autism in Iran.
- To provide a reliable tool for clinical and research use in the Iranian pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- The Pediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ) was translated into Persian.
- Psychometric properties (validity and reliability) of the P-HQ-P were assessed using classical test theory.
- The P-HQ-P was administered to parents of children with ASD and typically developing children, and results were compared with the Persian Sensory Profile 2 (SP2-P).
Main Results:
- The P-HQ-P demonstrated acceptable validity (content validity ratio > 0.99, content validity index > 0.92, face validity > 0.90, cross-cultural validity > 0.94) and reliability (α = 0.8, ICC = 0.85).
- A strong correlation (r = 0.83) was observed between P-HQ-P scores and specific items on the SP2-P.
- Hyperacusis prevalence was 27.8% overall and 38.3% in the ASD group, with no significant gender differences.
Conclusions:
- The Persian Pediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ-P) is a valid and reliable tool for assessing hyperacusis in Iranian children.
- A significant proportion of children with ASD experience hyperacusis, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
- Further research into hyperacusis within the Iranian pediatric population is warranted.
Abstract:
Background: Hyperacusis is an auditory perception disorder causing decreased sound tolerance to everyday sounds. Children with autism often exhibit symptoms of hyperacusis. This comorbidity can significantly impact the adaptability and social development of the children. Purpose: This study's objectives were to translate and psychometrically evaluate the Persian Pediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ-P) and the prevalence determination of hyperacusis among children with or without autism. Study Sample: The study was conducted by assigning 60 parents of children diagnosed with level 1 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 30 parents of typical children to the ASD group and control group, respectively. Data Collection and Analysis: In the first stage, the Pediatric Hyperacusis Questionnaire (P-HQ) was translated into Persian, and in the second stage, its reliability and validity were assessed by the classical test theory methods. The P-HQ-P results were compared with the Persian Sensory Profile 2 (SP2-P). Results: The P-HQ-P demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability, with content validity ratio > 0.99, content validity index > 0.92, face validity > 0.90, cross-cultural validity > 0.94, α = 0.8, and intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.85. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient showed a strong correlation (r = 0.83) between the P-HQ-P score and a group of seven items from SP2-P. There was not a statistically significant difference in hyperacusis between genders. Conclusions: The psychometric properties of the P-HQ-P were found to be acceptable, which made it suitable for clinical and research usage. The prevalence of hyperacusis was reported at 27.8 percent of the total sample and 38.3 percent in the ASD group. Our findings suggest the need for further research on hyperacusis in the Iranian pediatric population.
