Adaptation and Validation of Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children Questionnaire into Kannada for Use in Children with Normal Hearing
Jijo Pottakkal Mathai, Bhagyashree Ishwar Hegde, V. Nagarjun, Chethan H. V. GowdaAbstract
Introduction:
There has been a steady progress in early identification and rehabilitation of hearing impairment in India. Hence, it is essential to develop questionnaires in regional languages to evaluate the efficacy of auditory rehabilitation among children. The Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) questionnaire serves as a valuable tool for assessing auditory abilities in children with hearing loss. The present study aimed to culturally adapt and validate the PEACH questionnaire into Kannada.
Methods:
In the first phase of the study, the original PEACH questionnaire in English was translated to Kannada following the guidelines of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In the second phase of the study, the developed questionnaire was administered on parents of 225 children (127 males and 98 females) having normal hearing sensitivity in the age range of 03 months to 72 months. None of the children having any history of ear infections or any other disabilities were included in the study. Further, to validate the study, internal consistency and reliability were measured. In order to study the reliability, the questionnaire was readministered on 75 parents 1 week after the initial testing.
Results:
Across age groups, auditory performance improved, with older children scoring better than younger ones. Performance was better in quiet compared to noisy listening situations. The scores obtained in noisy situations also improved with age. The translated PEACH questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.84) and strong test–retest reliability (
Conclusion:
The translated PEACH questionnaire in Kannada can be used as a reliable tool for assessing auditory performance in Kannada-speaking children with and without hearing loss.