Assessment of distress associated with tinnitus

J Laryngol Otol. 1998 Mar;112(3):258-63. doi: 10.1017/s002221510015830x.

Abstract

This paper focuses upon the quality of the Dutch translation of the STSS (Subjective Tinnitus Severity Scale), a scale which assesses the severity of tinnitus and the related distress. Research has been done on the psychometric qualities of this scale, its relationship with loudness-matching procedures and several psychological variables. Data presented on 104 tinnitus patients demonstrated the reliability of the STSS with a coefficient alpha of 0.71. Factor analysis revealed four factors: emotional distress, intrusiveness, annoyance and cognitive distress. With regard to the validity, significant correlations of a moderate degree were found with several unitary subjective scales measuring the same construct (rs = 0.50, p < 0.001 and rs = 0.43, p < 0.01). Correlational research demonstrated that the STSS is independent of the loudness of tinnitus as measured by matching procedures (rs = 0.00). In contrast, significant correlations of a moderate magnitude were found with anxiety (rs = 0.33, p < 0.001) and depression (rs = 0.31, and rs = 0.35, p < 0.001).

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Depression / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychological Tests*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology
  • Tinnitus / psychology*