[Subjective assessment of acute tinnitus and proposal of a tinnitus score].
BACKGROUND
Frequency, loudness and the level for masking of tinnitus of many patients can be measured. The measured parameters and the subjective feelings of the patients often do not correlate.


METHODS
In a prospective study the subjective experiences of symptoms of 34 in-patients with acute tinnitus without hearing loss were analysed. The patients were asked before, during, immediately after and 3 years after therapy to fill in a form each. 4 questions allowed to assume the complaints to categories, 4 times the patients were asked to mark the intensity of their complaints on horizontal visual analogue scales. Each question scored from 0 to 5 points, a total score from 0 to 40 is possible.


RESULTS
The therapy improved all parameters, the score improved from 23.0 to 14.7. The introduced questionnaire and the score allow a detailed documentation of the success of the treatment and with it the possibility to compare various approaches of therapy.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001299:Audiometry; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012015:Reference Standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014944:World Health Organization
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline