Table 1 Tinnitus-related assessments
Measure | Content | Time frame item example |
|---|---|---|
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) | 25 items | Time frame not specified |
3 response options | ||
○ yes (4 points) ○ sometimes (2 points) ○ no (0 points) | “Because of your tinnitus do you feel frustrated?” | |
Summary score 0 to 100 | ||
A higher score denotes higher tinnitus-related handicap | ||
THI functional subscale | Score 0 to 44, reflects role limitations in the areas of mental, social, occupational and physical functioning | “Because of your tinnitus do you often feel tired?” |
THI emotional subscale | Score 0 to 36, representing a broad range of affective responses to tinnitus | “Does your tinnitus make you angry?” |
THI catastrophic subscale | Score 0 to 20, reflects patients’ desperation, inability to escape from tinnitus, perception of having a terrible disease, lack of control and inability to cope | “Because of your tinnitus do you feel desperate?” |
Tinnitus severity | One question about tinnitus severity | Present |
○ no problem (1 point) ○ a small problem (2 points) ○ a moderate problem | “How much of a problem is your tinnitus at present” | |
(3 points) | ||
○ a big problem (4 points) ○ a very big problem (5 points) |