Validation and inter-rater reliability testing of the Arabic version of speech intelligibility rating among children with cochlear implant.

OBJECTIVES: To validate and assess the reliability of the new version of an Arabic speech intelligibility rating among di erent raters. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis was carried out between December 2018 and January 2019. Thirty cochlear-implant (CI) children (study group) and 30 subjects (control group) were enrolled. Study candidates' speech skills were evaluated using the translated Arabic SIR by parents and original SIR by professions such as speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Inter-rater agreement, test-retest reliability, pre- and post-intervention score (responsiveness test), patient versus control score comparison (discriminant validity), and cross-validation of Arabic SIR have all been assessed. RESULTS: There was a good sense of agreement between the post-operative SIR parents' assessments and the professional SLPs' assessments (r=0.920, p less than 0.001). The mean of study subjects pre- and post-implantation score of Arabic SIR showed a statistically significant difference (p less than 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Arabic SIR demonstrated excellent reliability with strong consistency. It showed its clinical ability in distinguishing healthy subjects from patients along with follow up of speech development skills over time. The Arabic SIR can be used by parents to evaluate post-CI progress of their children.

Inter-rater Reliability and Validity of the Arabic Version of Categories of Auditory Performance-II (CAP-II) Among Children With Cochlear Implant.

BACKGROUND: Categories of Auditory Performance II (CAP-II) is an established audiological test that consists of a rating scale that can be used for prospective assessment of the auditory performance of cochlear implant (CI) recipients. OBJECTIVE: To create and validate an Arabic version of Categories of Auditory Performance scale II (CAP-II), and to evaluate its reliability. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 30 post-CI children (patients' group) along with 30 control subjects were included. The translated Arabic CAP-II scale has been used by speech-language pathologists and parents to evaluate the study subjects' auditory abilities. The interrater reliability, test-retest reliability, pre and postintervention score (responsiveness test), case versus control score comparison (discriminate validity), and cross-validation of the new Arabic version of CAP-II have been assessed. RESULTS: The Arabic CAP-II demonstrated high test-retest and inter-rater reliability. There was a positive correlation between the Arabic CAP-II and Meaningful auditory integration scale. The Arabic CAP-II scores were higher in the patients' group compared with control subjects. CONCLUSION: The Arabic CAP-II showed high inter-rater reliability with excellent concurrent and discriminate validity. The Arabic version of CAP-II seems to be a valid and reliable tool in assessing different auditory performance in Arabic speaking children with hearing impairment.