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

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.