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Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) as a hearing aid outcome measure
1Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|October 16, 1999
Summary
Hearing aids offer a small but significant reduction in tinnitus handicap for new users. Patient satisfaction is more closely linked to improved speech understanding than to tinnitus relief.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Tinnitus is a common complaint among individuals with hearing loss.
- Hearing aids are frequently recommended for managing both hearing impairment and tinnitus.
- Quantifying the impact of hearing aids on tinnitus perception is crucial for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of hearing aids in reducing tinnitus handicap.
- To explore the relationship between hearing aid benefit, tinnitus handicap reduction, and overall user satisfaction.
- To determine if the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) measure distinct aspects of hearing aid benefit.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-four novice hearing aid users with hearing loss and tinnitus participated.
- Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) were administered.
- Outcome measures were assessed 6 weeks post-fitting, analyzing THI benefit scores against APHAB scores and user satisfaction.
Main Results:
- Hearing aid use led to a statistically significant reduction in tinnitus handicap, though the effect size was generally small.
- Overall user satisfaction showed a weak correlation with tinnitus handicap reduction (THI benefit).
- User satisfaction was strongly associated with improvements in speech perception (APHAB speech subscales) but not with the Aversiveness subscale of the APHAB.
Conclusions:
- Hearing aids can provide a modest benefit for tinnitus handicap in new users.
- The THI and APHAB measure different constructs, indicating they are not redundant.
- The THI is a valuable tool for assessing the impact of hearing aids on tinnitus within a broader evaluation of hearing aid benefit.
