A revised grading system for the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory based on a large clinical population. (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Skarżyński, Piotr H.; Rajchel, Joanna J.; Gos, Elżbieta; Dziendziel, Beata; Kutyba, Justyna; Bieńkowska, Katarzyna; Świerniak, Weronika; Gocel, Maria; Raj-Koziak, Danuta; Włodarczyk, Elżbieta A.; Skarżyński, Henryk
• Is Part Of: International journal of audiology. Volume 59:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Tinnitus -- handicap -- questionnaire -- norming -- reference values -- diagnostics; Audiology -- Periodicals; Hearing disorders -- Periodicals; Deafness -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Hearing Disorders -- Periodicals; Hearing -- Periodicals; 617.8
• DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2019.1664778
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1499-2027

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) is one of the world's most commonly used tools to assess tinnitus severity. The aim of the current study was to establish a revised THI grading system using standard Z-scores and percentiles. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Study sample: Adult patients (1042 participants – 518 (49.7%) female and 524 (50.3%) male) reporting tinnitus duration of a minimum of 6 months with complete documentation on patient's clinical status (age, gender, tinnitus duration and laterality, tinnitus handicap based on THI and hearing status based on pure-tone audiometry) were included in the study. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyse the effects of gender and hearing loss on THI scores and revealed there was a significant effect of both. Consequently, separate grading systems for women and men, as well as for subjects with normal hearing and hearing loss, is proposed. Conclusions: Our findings are generally consistent with existing grading. Normative values proposed for THI scores, based on a large group of tinnitus patients, could be useful to guide decisions about appropriate intervention options or to evaluate treatment outcomes.