A Client Oriented Scale of Improvement in Tinnitus for Therapy Goal Planning and Assessing Outcomes

Abstract

There is a need to develop methods to help clinicians work with clients to select and personalize tinnitus therapies. The use of validated measures to determine treatment success is also essential for research and clinical practice. A goal planning method widely used in audiologic rehabilitation is the client oriented scale of improvement (COSI). A modified version of the COSI has been used to identify tinnitus treatment goals and outcomes (client oriented scale of improvement in tinnitus [COSIT]).The aims of this study were to identify treatment goals in a clinic sample and ascertain the convergent validity of the COSIT to three widely used standardized questionnaires.A retrospective evaluation of client treatment goals using thematic analysis and correlational analysis of secondary research data comparing the COSIT to tinnitus handicap questionnaire (THQ), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), and tinnitus functional index (TFI).One hundred and twenty-two adult patients and research participants attending the University of Auckland Hearing and Tinnitus Clinic.Specific treatment goals were categorized into 11 themes. The most common treatment goals (>10% of responses) were: (1) Reducing tinnitus’ effects on Hearing. (2) Improved wellbeing and being less depressed. (3) Coping with or controlling the tinnitus. (4) Managing the effect of the environment (context) on tinnitus. (5) Improving sleep. (6) Understanding tinnitus. Individuals differed in their complaints and priorities for treatment. The COSIT showed moderate convergent validity with the THQ, THI, and TFI indicating that the total scores measured similar constructs.The COSIT is a pragmatic method for determining tinnitus treatment goals and priorities in a format that should be familiar to audiologists.

Hearing aids with tinnitus sound support reduce tinnitus severity for new and experienced hearing aid users

“…The Client Oriented Scale of Improvement on Tinnitus (COSIT) (Searchfield, 2019) goals were established for each participant through discussion with the researcher about how tinnitus was affecting their life and what they hoped to achieve with the intervention. Participants could choose up to five personal goals to be evaluated at the end of their participation in the study.…”

Patient-reported measures of tinnitus for individuals with neurofibromatosis type 2–related schwannomatosis: Recommendations for clinical trials

“… 28 One measure was excluded (i.e. the Client Oriented Scale of Improvement-Tinnitus) 29 because while it would be very useful for clinical settings as outcomes are selected by clinicians and patients collaboratively based on the patient’s individual needs, this measure would not be feasible in the context of a clinical trial because theoretically there could be a unique outcome measure for each study participant, limiting the researcher’s ability to draw conclusions from the entire sample of study participants on a single specific domain of interest.…”