Validity of the Italian adaptation of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE-It)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Italian translation of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE). METHODS: A sample of 275 adults, aged > 65 years, filled out the Italian version of the HHIE (HHIE-It) together with the MOS 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Seventy-one participants answered the questionnaire a second time after six weeks. The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct and criterion validity were evaluated. RESULTS: Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94 and suggested a high internal consistency. There was also a significant intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between test and retest scores. In addition, Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the two scores was high and significant. High and significant correlation coefficients were also found between the HHIE-It score and the pure tone average threshold of the better ear and between the HHIE-It and the subscales Role-emotional, Social Functioning and Vitality of the SF-36. These latter results indicate good construct and criterion validity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The HHIE-It maintained the reliability and validity of the English version suggesting its utility for both clinical and research purposes.