title: Impact of visual disorders on vestibular and balance rehabilitation therapy outcomes in soldiers with blast injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the standard measurements in the evaluation process is quantifying the tinnitus frequency. With advancements in the treatments of tinnitus, the need for a simple patient-directed automated tinnitus assessment is urging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the accuracy of a web-based protocol for tinnitus frequency matching in comparison to audiometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty subjects had tinnitus frequency matching in a random order using an audiometer in an anechoic chamber and using a web-based software with a multiple-choice protocol and a slider. Octave challenge testing was performed. Participants were asked to indicate which protocol resulted in the closest match to their tinnitus frequency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median tinnitus frequency was 6000Hz (range, 2000-12000Hz) using the audiometer and self-directed multiple-choice protocol. Using the slider, the median frequency was 5925Hz (range, 1850-16000Hz). The patients with tinnitus frequency of over 12000Hz experienced a higher level of satisfaction when using the computer-based slider system. Five patients experienced octave confusion with self-directed multiple-choice tinnitus matching that was corrected accurately after the octave challenge step.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A web-based protocol for tinnitus frequency matching is as accurate as a standard audiometric protocol. An octave challenge test is necessary for a patient-directed tinnitus frequency matching.
authors: Julie A
authors: JA
authors: Honaker
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Tomasek
authors: Kara
authors: K
authors: Bean
authors: Bret
authors: B
authors: Logan
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004244:Dizziness / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014792:Visual Acuity