Abstract
While tinnitus is common in patients with hearing loss, little is known regarding its relationship with hearing handicap. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the correlation between Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI) questionnaires. Adults with tinnitus (n = 200) aged 22 to 80 years participated in this comparative study. The 25-item THI that consists of three subscales (emotional, functional and catastrophic) was used to assess tinnitus severity, while HHI that is composed of 25 items categorized under two subscales (emotional and situational) was utilized to assess hearing handicap. All participants were instructed to fill in the respective questionnaires accordingly. A weak but significant correlation was then found between the total HHI score and the total THI score (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). When the emotional subscale scores were compared between the two questionnaires, a weak correlation was also noted (r = 0.26, p < 0.001). The study findings demonstrate that the THI measures a construct different to that of the HHI. That is, the hearing handicap questionnaire is not sufficient to predict tinnitus severity. As such, a specific tinnitus questionnaire is needed to assess people with tinnitus.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Tinnitus Assessment and Intervention |
| Subtitle of host publication | Clinical Studies and Case Reports |
| Publisher | Nova Science Publishers |
| Pages | 147-156 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781536199918 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781536199208 |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Jul 2021 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine