A Study On Assessment Methodology For Evaluating Tinnitus Gravity

ObjectivesIn order to provide references for tinnitus efficacy evaluation, this study aims to explore the rational evaluation method of tinnitus severity. Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire proposed by tutor Liu Peng professor. Through observation of prospective cases, we examine the reliability, validity and reactivity of the Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire. And compared with tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) imported from abroad. Researchers also study on Tinnitus Psychoacoustical Test and the relativity between course of disease and Severity of tinnitus. Inspect the scientificity and practicability of Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire for spread and exploitation in clinical practice, finally provide a convenient and practical evaluation tool for multi-center clinical studies of tinnitus.Methods1. Formulate inclusion and exclusion criteria of patients, participants meet the criterion come from the ear-nose-throat department of NO.1 affiliated hospital of Guangzhou university of Chinese medicine. Ask the details of tinnitus, complete Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire, tinnitus handicap inventory, Tinnitus Psychoacoustical Test(Loudness matching, Loudness matching, frequency of Tinnitus, and tinnitus masking, residual inhibition) and course of disease, process and record date.2. Statistical analysis:Examine the reliability, validity and reactivity of the Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire by SPSS17.0, and analyse Tinnitus Psychoacoustical Test and the relativity between course of disease and Severity of tinnitus.Result1. General Information:All of the participants meet the criterion come from the ear-nose-throat department of NO.1 affiliated hospital of Guangzhou university of Chinese medicine.202 cases are well-documented. Among them,118 cases are male (accounted for 58.4%),84 patients are female (accounted for 41.6%); age from 15 to 78 years, the average age is 41.29+13.01; course from 3 days to 30 years, the average course is 2.63 months; 72 cases are tinnitus of left ear (accounted for 35.6%).48 cases are tinnitus of right ear (accounted for 23.7%).80 cases are tinnitus of both ears(accounted for 40.5%).2 cases are tinnitus cranii.2. Internal consistency reliability Cronbach's a of Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire is 0.76, correlation coefficient of retest reliability is 0.912(P<0.001); correlation coefficient about THI is 0.769 (P<0.001); Reaction index of patients are in line with overall feel(P<0.001).3. Successively, the total correlation of Indicators of Tinnitus Psychoacoustical Test, such as Loudness matching, frequency of Tinnitus, residual inhibition are 0.120 (P>0.05),0.031 (P>0.05),0.099 (P>0.05). On the basis of tinnitus masking curve, The severity of disengaged type of tinnitus is more serious than that of distance patterns, convergence patterns, congruence patterns. There are no significant differences between distance patterns, convergence patterns, congruence patterns. The correlation coefficient between course and tinnitus evaluation questionnaire is 0.146 (P>0.05)Conclusion1. Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire has a better reliability, validity and reactivity, Cronbach's a of Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire is 0.76, correlation coefficient of retest reliability is 0.912(P<0.001); correlation coefficient about THI is 0.769 (P<0.001), This Questionnaire can better reflect changes of severity of tinnitus. Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire is more concise and practical, and better suitable for China's national conditions, and worth of being generalized.2. Indicators of Tinnitus Psychoacoustical Test, such as Loudness matching, frequency of Tinnitus, residual inhibition have little relation with severity of tinnitus, there is no definite correlation between different tinnitus masking curve and severity of tinnitus. and no obvious correlation between course and severity. Therefore, To evaluate the severity by Indicators of Tinnitus Psychoacoustical or bring the course into the evaluation system is not proper.