Translation, Adaptation and Cross Language Validation of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory in Urdu

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesTinnitus is characterized as a perception of numerous auditory sounds in absence of external stimulus. Tinnitus can have a considerable consequence on a person’s quality of life, and is considered to be very complicated to quantify. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of Urdu translation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) in Pakistan. It was designed to assess the presence of various auditory sounds without the external stimulus. Scale consisted of 25 items having three subscales functional, emotional, and catastrophic.Subjects and MethodsThe study comprised into two stages, preliminary and main studies. The results of preliminary study revealed that the overall scale had high internal consistency [alpha coefficient of Urdu version of THI (THI-U)= 0.99, alpha coefficient of English version of THI=0.98]. The overall scale had test-retest correlation over a fifteen days period of interval (0.99). Main study was performed on 110 tinnitus patients. The results of main study showed that the internal consistency and reliability of Urdu version was (α=0.93). The THI-U and its subscales demonstrated good internal consistency reliability ( α =0.81 to 0.86).ResultsHigh to moderate correlations were noted between tinnitus symptom ratings. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the three subscales of THI-U, and high inter-correlations were found between the subscales also results revealed that a three-factor model for the THI-U was most tenable. The results displayed that the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed to validate the three subscales of THI-U.ConclusionTHI-U might present important information about precise facets of tinnitus distress along with diagnostic interviews in clinical practice.

Improved measurement of tinnitus severity: Study of the dimensionality and reliability of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

“…To date, more than a dozen factor structure validation studies of THI have been published, with study groups ranging from 50 [ 32 , 34 ] to 373 patients [ 35 ]. The majority of these studies failed to demonstrate a three-factor structure [ 36 – 38 ], although two of them did support the original three-factor solution [ 35 , 39 ]. In particular, the German study seems very strong: in its confirmatory factor analysis it used a large sample of 373 tinnitus patients [ 35 ].…”

Tinnitus perception mediates the relationship between physiological and psychological problems among patients

“…2018; Eggermont, 2012;Yıldız et al, 2017;Zoger et al, 2006). Previous research has debated the relationship between tinnitus and PP (Alpini & Cesarani, 2006;Aqeel & Ahmed, 2018;Aqeel et al, 2017;Axelsson & Ringdahl, 1989;Coelho et al, 2004;Danesh et al, 2018;Scholes & Ramakrishnan, 2015;Vanneste et al, 2018). While some studies have shown that patients with HL and tinnitus were more inclined to mood swings, stress, anxiety, and depression than those who had tinnitus without HL (Bauer et al, 2017;Cima et al, 2018;Ibarra et al, 2018;Van Damme et al, 2017).…”

“…The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) was used to measure the levels of tinnitus perception in all participants. The THI is a 25-item scale, with three subscales, developed by Newman, Sandridge, and Jacobson (1998) and translated into Urdu by Aqeel and Ahmed (2018). This scale requires individuals to mark/rate their agreement with each item of the questionnaire, for example, 1 ( No ) to 3 ( Yes ).…”

“…Lee et al, 2018; Møller, Langguth, DeRidder, & Kleinjung, 2010; Neff et al, 2019; Watts et al, 2018). Currently, identifying and understanding the antecedents, consequences, and modifiable aspects of tinnitus in Pakistan are essential to the development of new intervention strategies to address this issue (Alpini & Cesarani, 2006; Aqeel & Ahmed, 2018; Aqeel et al, 2017; McCormack et al, 2015; Michiels et al, 2017; Scholes & Ramakrishnan, 2015; Udupi, Uppunda, Mohan, Alex, & Mahendra, 2013). As such, it is possible that psychosocial factors may directly/indirectly affect the occurrence of tinnitus and its comorbid symptoms, including various psychological disorders.…”

Association of Dietary Factors with Presence and Severity of Tinnitus in Korean Adults with Normal Hearing

“…Tinnitus is more than four times common in people with hearing loss than in people without hearing loss [7]. There is a clearly high correlation between hearing impairment and tinnitus [8,9]. The prevalence of any type of tinnitus is 17-20 %, and that of persistent tinnitus is 8-10 %, in normal hearing populations [10].…”