Analysis of responses to individual items on the tinnitus handicap inventory according to severity of tinnitus handicap

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether certain aspects of tinnitus tend to trouble people even when they are not severely affected by tinnitus in many ways. Method: 274 patients who had requested a tinnitus clinic appointment were divided into four categories depending on their Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores: no handicap (0- 16), mild handicap (18- 36), moderate handicap (38- 56), and severe handicap (58- 100.) Mean scores for each of the 25 items on the questionnaire were calculated and compared within each group and between the four groups. Results: Two items concerning lack of control over tinnitus and inability to escape it had the highest mean score overall and in each category, and elicited positive responses from the majority of patients in all but the “no handicap� group. One item concerning the belief that tinnitus indicates a terrible disease was found to have the lowest mean score overall and in each category and elicited negative responses from the majority of patients in all but the “severe handicap� group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that only those who are severely handicapped by tinnitus tend to regard it as a terrible disease, and that lack of control and inability to escape are common feelings amongst many people with tinnitus, from the most to the least severely handicapped.