Development of the Listening Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (LSEQ)

Abstract

Abstract

Objective: Listening self-efficacy refers to the beliefs, or confidence, that listeners have in their capability to successfully listen in specific situations, which may influence audiologic rehabilitation outcomes. The objective of this study was to develop and validate the Listening Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (LSEQ), which quantifies listening self-efficacy in a variety of situations where the goal of the listener is to understand speech. Study Sample: Older listeners with hearing loss (N = 169) participated in the study. Design: A factor analysis showed that the LSEQ has three subscales, with beliefs about listening capabilities relating to the following situations: (1) dialogue in quiet, (2) focusing attention on a single source, and (3) complex auditory scenes. Internal consistency reliability was excellent (Chronbach's α > .80). Results: The validity of the LSEQ was demonstrated by comparing the LSEQ scores to audiologic measures, responses on questionnaires, and to the scores for reference groups of younger and older listeners with normal hearing. Conclusion: The findings indicate that the LSEQ is a valid and reliable measure of listening self-efficacy with good potential for use in clinical and research settings.

Sumario

Objetivo: La auto-eficacia para escuchar se refiere a la convicción o confianza que el sujeto tenga sobre su capacidad de escuchar exitosamente en situaciones específicas, las cuáles pueden influir los resultados de una rehabilitación audiológica. El propósito de este estudio fue desarrollar y validar un cuestionario de auto-eficacia para escuchar (LSEQ), que cuantifica la auto-eficacia para escuchar en una variedad de situaciones, donde la meta es entender lenguaje. Muestra del Estudio: Participaron en el estudio sujetos mayores con hipoacusia (n = 169). Diseño: Un análisis factorial mostró que el LSEQ tiene tres sub-escalas, con relación a capacidades para escuchar en la siguientes situaciones: (1) diálogo en silencio, (2) concentrando la atención en un fuente única, y (3) escenarios auditivos complejos. La confiabilidad y la consistencia interna fue excelente (Chronbach α > .80). Resultados: La validez del LSEQ fue demostrada comparando las puntuaciones con las mediciones audiológicas, con las respuestas de cuestionarios, y con las puntuaciones para grupos de referencia de personas jóvenes y viejas con audición normal. Conclusión: Los hallazgos indican que el LSEQ es una medida válida y confiable de auto-eficacia para escuchar con un buen potencial para utilizarse en el contexto clínico y de investigación.

Key Words::

• Self-efficacy
• Confidence
• Age
• Speech perception
• Hearing loss
• Listening in noise
• Audiologic rehabilitation
• Questionnaire
• Self-report

Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, and Office of Research and Development, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service. The work was supported by a Career Development Award (C6394W) to the first author, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (RR&D), Washington, D.C., and by the RR&D Auditory and Vestibular Dysfunction Research Enhancement Award Program (C4339F). The data from the older participants with good hearing were collected by Lindsay DeSouza for a research course requirement. The authors are grateful to Genevieve Alexander and Melissa Hatcher who assisted with the remainder of the data collection. A portion of this work was presented at Listening Self-Efficacy of Older Adults with Hearing Loss, Academy of Rehabilitative Audiology, September 9–11, 2009, Bettendorf, Iowa, USA.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. The contents of this manuscript do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.