title: Analysis of acutely exacerbated chronic tinnitus by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine factors potentially contributing to acutely exacerbated chronic tinnitus initiation using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty acutely exacerbated chronic tinnitus out-patients were divided into two groups depending on whether hearing loss was aggravated or stable during tinnitus exacerbation. Total Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores and scores for the three subscales (assessing functional limitations, emotional attitudes and catastrophic thoughts) were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores did not differ between groups. In patients with acutely exacerbated chronic tinnitus and aggravated hearing loss, functional subscale scores were significantly higher after acutely exacerbated chronic tinnitus than at baseline, but catastrophic and emotional subscale scores did not change. In patients with acutely exacerbated chronic tinnitus and stable hearing loss, emotional subscale scores were significantly higher after acutely exacerbated chronic tinnitus than at baseline, but catastrophic and functional subscale scores did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated Tinnitus Handicap Inventory functional subscale scores might indicate further hearing loss, whereas elevated emotional subscale scores might be associated with negative life or work events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery,Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou,China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery,Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou,China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery,Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou,China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery,Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou,China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery,Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou,China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery,Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,Guangzhou,China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Chronic Disease; Tinnitus; Tinnitus Handicap Inventory