Psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the meaningful use of speech scale (Arabic MUSS)

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the construct, discriminative, and predictive validity, and the test-retest reliability of the Arabic Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS).

Methods

Parents of 102 children with cochlear implantation (CI) with a matching control group of 102 children with normal hearing completed the Arabic-MUSS scale. A random subsample of 30 parents was interviewed after two weeks to examine the test-retest reliability

Results

the construct validity of the Arabic-MUSS was established by exploratory factor analysis that yielded a unidimensional scale and explained a total of 92.48% of the variance in the total score of the Arabic-MUSS. The internal consistency of the scale was excellent with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.975. The Arabic-MUSS discriminative validity was supported by the significant difference between the total score of children with CI and children with normal hearing (p < 0.0001). The Arabic-MUSS has a moderate predictive validity as demonstrated by the moderate correlation between the total score and the time since cochlear implantation (p < 0.001). The Arabic-MUSS has excellent test-retest reliability.

Conclusion

The Arabic-MUSS is a valid and reliable measure that can be used to guide plans for auditory rehabilitation and monitor the progress of children with cochlear implantation over time.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• The Arabic-Meaningful Use of Speech Scale is a valid and reliable parent-report assessment.

• The Arabic-Meaningful Use of Speech Scale evaluates functional speech in children with cochlear implantation.

• Clinicians can use the Arabic- Meaningful Use of Speech Scale to plan and monitor the progress of auditory rehabilitation programs.

Keywords:

• Cochlear implantation
• Arabic
• psychometrics
• children
• Meaningful Use of Speech Scale

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participant families of children with cochlear implantation for their valuable contribution to this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Jordan, Deanship of Scientific Research, and Amman, Jordan [Grant number 168/2018-2019].