“Can You Hear Me Now?” The Validation of a Self-assessment Scale for Telephone Abilities through Structured Conversation Ratings

ABSTRACT

The ability to communicate freely over the telephone remains a necessity in today's rapid-paced world. Ease in talking over the telephone can be elusive to individuals with acquired hearing loss and remains, despite advances in technology, a primary concern of hearing aid wearers. Although clients with hearing loss are rightly demanding more from their amplification systems, audiologists are left with little research into the efficacy of telephone-specific communication strategies or the efficacy of telephone communication training for individuals with hearing loss. One reason for the paucity of research is the absence of a standardized method for determining telephone abilities. This study details the validation of a listener/partner self-assessment tool specific to the telephone, the Self Perceived Abilities on the Telephone, through structured conversational ratings. Discussion centers on forces driving the use of conversation-based strategies in audiological rehabilitation diagnosis and treatment.

KEYWORDS

Hearing aids - telephone - conversational therapy - TOPICON - self-assessment

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APPENDIX A Final Versions of the SPAT and SPAT-CP

TELEPHONE CASE HISTORY

Name:_____________________ Date: _______

Identification Number #:_________________ DOB: _________

Communication Partner Name: _____________________________________

Relationship of Communication Partner to you

___1. Spouse or significant other

___2. Sibling

___3. Parent

___4. Child

___5. Friend, neighbor

___6. Relative other than above

Check the way you most often use the telephone

___Telephone alone

___Amplified Handset

___Telephone and your hearing aid

___Telephone Amp

___Telephone and your hearing aid set on T-Coil

How many years have you used a hearing aid?

___Never used a hearing aid

___Just purchased a hearing aid (less than 6 months)

___6 months to one year

___one year

___give the number of years if more than one

How many hours per day do you use your hearing aid?

___do not use a hearing aid on a daily basis

___less than one hour

___one hour

___give the number of hours if over one

How many times per day do you speak on the telephone?

___do not speak on the telephone on a daily basis

___one time per day

___give the number of times if greater than one

Does your communication partner have a hearing loss?

____ Yes____ No ____ I am not sure

The following questionnaire is designed to measure how well you communicate on the telephone. Circle the answer which best tells your opinion. PLEASE GIVE AN ANSWER FOR EACH ONE.

1. I often misunderstand conversations over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

2. In general I hear well over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

3. I can understand men better than women over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

4. I often have to ask people to repeat during telephone conversations.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

5. I have no trouble understanding telephone conversations if the room is noisy.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

6. I do not like to use the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

7. I seldom ask someone else to talk for me on the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

8. I do not have trouble understanding friends over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

9. I can understand women better than men over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

10. I do not have trouble understanding strangers over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

TELEPHONE CASE HISTORY-PARTNER FORM

Name:______________________________________ Date: _______

Name of communication partner:_________________________________

Date of Birth: ____________________

Check the way your partner most often uses the telephone

___Telephone alone

___Amplified Handset

___Telephone and hearing aid

___Telephone Amplifier

___Telephone and hearing aid set on T-Coil

Do you have a hearing loss?

____ Yes____ No____ I am not sure

The following questionnaire is designed to measure how well your partner communicates on the telephone. Circle the answer which best tells your opinion. PLEASE GIVE AN ANSWER FOR EACH ONE.

1. My partner often misunderstands conversations over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

2. In general my partner hears well over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

3. My partner can understand men better than women over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

4. My partner often has to ask people to repeat during telephone conversations.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

5. My partner has no trouble understanding telephone conversations if the room is noisy.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

6. My partner does not like to use the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

7. My partner seldom asks someone else to talk for him/her on the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

8. My partner does not have trouble understanding friends over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

9. My partner can understand women better than men over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree

10. My partner does not have trouble understanding strangers over the telephone.

a. strongly agree b. agree c. disagree d. strongly disagree