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

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) is widely used in clinical practice and research as a three-dimensional measure of tinnitus severity. Despite extensive use, its factor structure remains unclear. Furthermore, THI can be considered a reliable measure only if Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Classical Test Theory is used. The more modern and robust Item Response Theory (IRT) has so far not been used to psychometrically evaluate THI. In theory, IRT allows a more precise evaluation of THI's factor structure, reliability, and the quality of individual items.

Method

There were 1115 patients with tinnitus (556 women and 559 men), aged 19-84 years (M = 51.55; SD = 13.28). The dimensionality of THI was evaluated using several models of Confirmatory Factor Analysis and

SUBMITTER: Gos E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7447004 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature