이명규모지수(Tinnitus Magnitude Index)의 유용성 연구

Clinical Implication of Tinnitus Magnitude Index

Purpose: Tinnitus magnitude index (TMI) is the questionnaire to evaluate the intensity of the tinnitus perception on the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional reaction to tinnitus. Whether TMI has a possible clinical implication as the Korean adaptation, the present study confirmed the correlations between the Korean adaptation of the TMI questionnaire and tinnitus handicap questionnaire (THQ), and TMI and psychoacoustic loudness from the tinnitogram. Methods: Although a total of 265 participants were recruited, we selected only 100 subjects who had tinnitus at the time of the psychoacoustic test of tinnitus and completed all the questions of THQ and TMI. The subjective loudness of the psychoacoustic test was compared to each of the TMI questions, and for the validation of the Korean adaptation of TMI, THQ was measured. Results: There was no significant relationship between each TMI questionnaire and the loudness from the tinnitogram. Regarding the correlation between each question of THQ response and each question of TMI, there was a significant moderate relationship. Conclusion: Taken together, there was no relationship between subjective loudness and the intensity of tinnitus perception of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional reaction to tinnitus, while TMI could assess the stress and pain from tinnitus. TMI is a concise, quick, and simple questionnaire, so it would be useful for evaluating the reaction of tinnitus perception in the clinical setting.