Readability and Comprehensibility of Tinnitus Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Application of the Evaluative Linguistic Framework for Questionnaires.
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| Title: | Readability and Comprehensibility of Tinnitus Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Application of the Evaluative Linguistic Framework for Questionnaires. |
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| Authors: | Watson, Celeste1, Atcherson, Samuel R.1 sratcherson@uams.edu, Zraick, Richard I.2 |
| Source: | Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research. Apr2026, Vol. 69 Issue 4, p1858-1865. 8p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Readability (Literary style), *Disability determination, *Emotions, Health literacy, Research funding, Questionnaires, Tinnitus, Linguistics, Surveys, Health outcome assessment |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study assessed the readability and comprehensibility of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) related to tinnitus using both readability formulas and the Evaluative Linguistic Framework for Questionnaires (ELF-Q). Method: Nine validated tinnitus PROMs were evaluated using three readability formulas: FORCAST, Gunning FOG, and Flesch Reading Ease. Each PROM was also analyzed using the ELF-Q, which assesses structural and linguistic features influencing comprehension. The Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire (Mini-TQ) was reformatted using ELF-Q principles to demonstrate improvements in usability. Results: Most PROMs exceeded recommended reading levels, with readability scores indicating high school-level demands. ELF-Q analysis revealed that all PROMs required modifications; three needed only minor changes, while four required major revisions. The reformatted Mini-TQ was the only version rated fully acceptable on ELF-Q criteria. Conclusions: Readability and structural clarity are often overlooked in PROM development. The ELF-Q offers a practical tool for identifying and addressing issues that affect patient comprehension and response burden. Incorporating both readability formulas and ELF-Q during development or clinical selection of PROMs may enhance accessibility and reliability of patient-reported data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 192982196 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Readability and Comprehensibility of Tinnitus Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Application of the Evaluative Linguistic Framework for Questionnaires. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Watson%2C+Celeste%22">Watson, Celeste</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Atcherson%2C+Samuel+R%2E%22">Atcherson, Samuel R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> sratcherson@uams.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zraick%2C+Richard+I%2E%22">Zraick, Richard I.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Speech%2C+Language+%26+Hearing+Research%22">Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 69 Issue 4, p1858-1865. 8p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Readability+%28Literary+style%29%22">Readability (Literary style)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disability+determination%22">Disability determination</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+literacy%22">Health literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tinnitus%22">Tinnitus</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Linguistics%22">Linguistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surveys%22">Surveys</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+outcome+assessment%22">Health outcome assessment</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Purpose: This study assessed the readability and comprehensibility of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) related to tinnitus using both readability formulas and the Evaluative Linguistic Framework for Questionnaires (ELF-Q). Method: Nine validated tinnitus PROMs were evaluated using three readability formulas: FORCAST, Gunning FOG, and Flesch Reading Ease. Each PROM was also analyzed using the ELF-Q, which assesses structural and linguistic features influencing comprehension. The Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire (Mini-TQ) was reformatted using ELF-Q principles to demonstrate improvements in usability. Results: Most PROMs exceeded recommended reading levels, with readability scores indicating high school-level demands. ELF-Q analysis revealed that all PROMs required modifications; three needed only minor changes, while four required major revisions. The reformatted Mini-TQ was the only version rated fully acceptable on ELF-Q criteria. Conclusions: Readability and structural clarity are often overlooked in PROM development. The ELF-Q offers a practical tool for identifying and addressing issues that affect patient comprehension and response burden. Incorporating both readability formulas and ELF-Q during development or clinical selection of PROMs may enhance accessibility and reliability of patient-reported data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1044/2025_JSLHR-25-00462 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 8 StartPage: 1858 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Readability (Literary style) Type: general – SubjectFull: Disability determination Type: general – SubjectFull: Emotions Type: general – SubjectFull: Health literacy Type: general – SubjectFull: Research funding Type: general – SubjectFull: Questionnaires Type: general – SubjectFull: Tinnitus Type: general – SubjectFull: Linguistics Type: general – SubjectFull: Surveys Type: general – SubjectFull: Health outcome assessment Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Readability and Comprehensibility of Tinnitus Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Application of the Evaluative Linguistic Framework for Questionnaires. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Watson, Celeste – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Atcherson, Samuel R. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zraick, Richard I. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10924388 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 69 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research Type: main |
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