Convergent validity of the tinnitus handicap inventory and the tinnitus questionnaire

Abstract

For research into tinnitus to be robust and credible, the use of well-validated instruments of self-perceived tinnitus handicap as outcome measures is essential. The tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and the tinnitus questionnaire (TQ) are two such instruments which are in widespread use. Both questionnaires were administered by mail to 100 consecutive new patients of the Cambridge Tinnitus Clinic, and completed in randomized order. These patients had been referred by the otolaryngology team and had not undergone any tinnitus therapy. The response rate was 78 per cent, neither questionnaire being more acceptable to patients than the other. The convergent validity of the instruments was high, with total and subscale scores all being significantly correlated at the five per cent level (Spearman correlation coefficients). A number of subscale scores were not significantly correlated at the one per cent level however. In particular, the sleep disturbance element of the TQ was demonstrated to have some discriminant validity from the THI and from other elements of the TQ at the one per cent significance level. The THI and TQ have been demonstrated to have high convergent validity and are both suitable for tinnitus outcome studies involving the quantification of self-perceived tinnitus handicap. For research that aims to determine the specific effect of an intervention on tinnitus-related sleep disturbance, the TQ sleep subscale has potential utility. The hypothetical constructs of tinnitus handicap underlying the psychologist-developed TQ and the audiologist-developed THI have been shown to be convergent.

Acceptance of Tinnitus: Validation of the Tinnitus Acceptance Questionnaire

“…Several studies support the good psychometric properties, including high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: α=.93; Newman, Jacobson et al, 1996), good test-retest reliability and strong convergent validity (Baguley, Humphriss, & Hodgson, 2000;Newman, Sandridge, & Jacobson, 1998). In the current sample, an equally high internal consistency for the THI was found (Cronbach's α=.93).…”

Estado mental e impacto do zumbido em idosos

“…Baguley et al (2000) 15 and Berry et al (2002) 16 referred that the THI quantifies the clinical improvement of tinnitus and highlighted its usefulness in monitoring and evaluation of treatment.…”

Aplicabilidade da orientação fonoaudiológica associada ao uso de aparelho de amplificação sonora individual na redução do zumbido

“…The choice of THI during this study was based on its ability to help improve self-perception of patients and to quantify the tinnitus symptom in relation to the emotional, functional and catastrophic aspects, as observed in other studies (28,29) . The different forms of orientation brought benefits for intervention of individuals of the sample.…”

“…The functional domain of THI assesses functional aspects of tinnitus, such as mental, social / occupational, and physical functioning (28) . In this study, after comparison between the initial evaluation and the final evaluation, it was observed that there was no difference between the groups ( Table 2) with averages of 17,75, 10,5 and 17 being found for groups A, B and C, respectively.…”

“…The affective responses for tinnitus are verified through the THI's "emotional" domain (28) . In the present study, it was observed that the adaptation of hearing loss associated with verbal guidance and delivery of supportive material on tinnitus was beneficial for individuals in group C, since after a comparison between the initial evaluation and the final evaluation, a significant difference in the "emotional" domain was observed in relation to the other groups (Table 4).…”