[The clinical application of tinnitus handicap index(THI-12) Chinese version]

Objective:The original prospective of this study is to explore a convenient tinnitus severity assessment tool, using Chinese version of THI-12.Method:We surveyed 229 outpatients on their first hospital visits with primary tinnitus as chief complaint. Both the Chinese version THI-12 and the standard THI-25 were administrated. Their tinnitus grading and administration time were compared. The correlation between the two scores was evaluated. A reliability and factor analysis of the Chinese version of THI-12 was also performed.Result:Two hundred and fifteen of the 229 questionnaires were valid with a 93.9% response rate. The average administration time was(18.9±21.0) min for the standard THI-25 and(8.96±4.70)min for the Chinese version THI-12, which was significantly different. Pearson's correlation coefficient between the two total scores was r=0.833(P <0.01), which indicates a strong positive correlation.The tinnitus grading was not statistically significant(Z=-0.307，P >0.05).Cronbach's coefficient of THI-12 was α=0.765, suggesting good reliability and internal consistency. Factor analysis found three entries with characteristic values greater than 1. These three common factors explained 51.77% of the overall variance, suggesting that the 12 entries can be grouped into three dimensions(emotionality, sociality, concentration). Entry"Because of your tinnitus is it difficult for you to concentrate? "had the highest common value(0.78), suggesting that this entry would contribute the most should all entries be divided into three dimensions.Conclusion:The Chinese version THI-12 is time-efficient, has good reliability and internal structural validity, and provides good assessment of tinnitus severity.It can be widely applied in clinical practice.