Download PDF
J Am Acad Audiol 1999; 10(09): 489-495
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748538
Original Article

Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) as a Hearing Aid Outcome Measure

Rauna K. Surr
Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
,
Jennifer A. Kolb
Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
,
Mary T. Cord
Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
,
Nancy P. Garrus
Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of hearing aids on the perception of tinnitus using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). THI benefit scores (unaided-aided) were examined in relation to hearing aid benefit as measured with the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) inventory. The THI benefit was also related to the users' ratings of overall satisfaction with their hearing aids. Thirty-four novice hearing aid users with complaints of hearing loss and tinnitus participated in the study. Outcome measures were obtained 6 weeks after the hearing aid fittings. The results showed that hearing aid use reduced tinnitus handicap significantly, but, typically, the effect was small. The association between overall satisfaction ratings and THI benefit scores was weak. In contrast, the overall satisfaction ratings were strongly related to benefit on the speech subscales (average of Ease of Communication, Reverberation, and Background Noise) but not on the Aversiveness subscale of the APHAB. The weak relationship observed between THI benefit and benefit on the speech subscales of the APHAB suggested that the two inventories were not redundant. The results of the study suggest that the THI can make a useful contribution to the overall profile of hearing aid benefit for new hearing aid users with tinnitus.

Abbreviations: AA&SC = Army Audiology and Speech Center, APHAB = Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit, AV = Aversiveness of Sounds subscale, BN = Background Noise subscale, C = Catastrophic subscale, cd = critical difference, E = Emotional subscale, EC = Ease of Communication subscale, E = Emotional subscale, F = functional subscale, RV = Reverberation subscale, THI = Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

Key Words

Hearing aid benefit - questionnaire - tinnitus


Publication History

Article published online:
05 May 2022

© 1999. American Academy of Audiology. This article is published by Thieme.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

  • REFERENCES

  • Cox RM, Alexander GC. (1995). The Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit. Ear Hear 16: 176–186.
  • Kneble SBH, Bentier RA. (1998). Comparison of two digital hearing aids. Ear Hear 19: 280–289.
  • Newman CW, Jacobson GP, Spitzer JB. (1996). Development of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 122: 143–148.
  • Newman CW, Sandridge SA, Jacobson GP. (1998). Psychometric adequacy of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) for evaluating treatment outcome. J Am Acad Audiol 9: 153–160.
  • Stouffer JL, Tyler RS. (1990). Characterization of tinnitus by tinnitus patients. J Speech Hear Disord 55: 439–453.
  • Surr RK, Montgomery AA, Mueller HG. (1985). Effect of amplification on tinnitus among new hearing aid users. Ear Hear 6: 71–75.
  • Walden BE, Surr RK, Cord MT. (1998). A clinical trial of the ReSound BT2 Personal Hearing System. Am J Audiol 7: 85–100.