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Development of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory
C W Newman1, G P Jacobson, J B Spitzer
1Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich, USA.
Archives of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery
|February 1, 1996
Summary
The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) is a new, reliable self-report measure for assessing tinnitus impact. It effectively quantifies how tinnitus affects daily life for patients.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Psychometrics
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- Tinnitus significantly impacts daily living, necessitating reliable assessment tools.
- Existing measures may lack brevity, ease of interpretation, or comprehensive scope.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a brief, psychometrically robust self-report measure for tinnitus handicap.
- The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) was created to be easily administered and interpreted.
Main Methods:
- A standardization study involving two investigations with 84 and 66 tinnitus patients.
- The 45-item alpha version was refined into a 25-item beta version (THI).
- Internal consistency, convergent validity, and construct validity were assessed.
Main Results:
- The 25-item THI demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .93).
- Significant correlations were found with symptom rating scales, indicating construct validity.
- Weak correlations were observed with depression and somatic perception inventories.
Conclusions:
- The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) is a valid and reliable self-report tool.
- It is suitable for quantifying tinnitus's impact in clinical settings.