Establishing the reliability and the validity of the Arabic translated versions of the Effort Assessment Scale and the Fatigue Assessment Scale

Abstract

Objective: The aim was to establish the reliability and the validity of Arabic translated versions of the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and the Effort Assessment Scale (EAS). Design: The FAS and the EAS were translated from the original English following a recommended six-step approach for translating hearing-related questionnaires for different languages. The reliability of the scales was investigated using Cronbach’s alpha, item-total correlation, and inter-item correlation. Construct validity was investigated using factor analysis and the hypothesis testing method. Study sample: The translated scales were completed by 146 participants from Jordan and Saudi Arabia (age range 19–86 years old, 39% male). Participants’ hearing level ranged from normal to profound. Results: Item 3 in the translated FAS was removed to improve the scale’s construct validity. The translated version of the EAS was found to be as reliable and valid as the original EAS. Conclusions: The availability of standardised versions of the FAS and the EAS provides a quick and easy method for improving hearing rehabilitation in Arabic-speaking countries where audiology services can often be costly and not necessarily accessible to all individuals.