Arabic Validation of the Noise-Induced Hearing Loss-Symptoms (NIHL-S) Scale Among Civilians Exposed to Loud Blasts During the 2024 Israeli Invasion of Lebanon

Background: Noise-induced hearing Loss (NIHL) is a major public health issue, especially in areas of conflict where civilians are exposed to acute and prolonged loud noise from, for example, sonic booms and explosions. A lot of civilians in Lebanon suffered from severe auditory trauma during the 2024 war. Although there have been a few instruments for the assessment of NIHL, none had been previously culturally adapted and validated into Arabic. The study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Noise-Induced Hearing Loss-Symptoms (NIHL-S) Scale in a Lebanese population experiencing noise pollution due to war activity. Methods: Lebanese individuals (N = 536, average age = 27.29 ± 11.79 years) exposed to loud blasts during the 2024 Lebanese responded to a self-administered online survey. NIHL-S was translated by forward–backward translation methodology and was culturally adapted. Results: A one-factor model of the Arabic NIHL-S was supported by CFA (χ²/df = 4.01; RMSEA = 0.075; CFI = 0.931; TLI = 0.911). Internal reliability was acceptable (ω = 0.85; α = 0.85). Configural, metric, and scalar measurements invariance across sex were established. No significant gender differences were found for NIHL-S scores (p = 0.726). Moreover, there were significant positive correlations between NIHL-S scores and stress (r = 0.10; p = 0.027) and Patient Health Questionnaire-4 scores (r = 0.35; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Arabic version of the NIHL-S has good psychometric properties, indicating that it is a reliable and valid tool to be used to screen for NIHL symptoms in Arabic-speaking populations subjected to war-related noise exposure. Its presence addresses a crucial need for clinical practice and research in conflict settings.