title: Validation of the THI-12 questionnaire for international use in assessing tinnitus: a multi-centre, prospective, observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and confirm the reliability and validity of the tinnitus handicap inventory 12 (THI-12) in various countries and languages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study conducted in seven countries, using linguistically harmonized versions of the THI-12 in six languages. These were evaluated for test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, known-groups validity, and construct validity. Basic psychometric properties of supporting instruments were compared. Questionnaires were completed by the subjects at baseline and again after 12-30 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults with a clinical diagnosis of subjective tinnitus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An exploratory factor analysis of the THI-12 items for the U.S. study population at baseline revealed a single common factor of high eigenvalue. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this in the separate countries. Test-retest reliability was moderate to high, and the conclusions were supported by a known-groups analysis; correlations with other scales expected to support construct validity were moderate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The THI-12 total score showed acceptable psychometric properties for all countries tested. The relationships between the THI-12 and the one-month and one-week versions of the TRS and TSS were similar and convergent. The THI-12 is thus a promising diagnostic tool for assessing treatment effects in multi-cultural and multi-lingual trials on tinnitus therapy.
authors.affiliation: Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH Global R&D, Frankfurt, Germany. ulli.bankstahl@merz.de
authors.forename: Ulli S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Bankstahl
authors.forename: Eric P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Elkin
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gebauer
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Görtelmeyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005060:Europe; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult