Table 2.
Tinnitus-related data and test–retest reliability assessed with the Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire (TSCHQ).
| Initial assessment | Test–retest reliability | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | Cohen's kappa/Intra-class correlation coefficient | |
| Onset of tinnitus (exact date) | – | – | 0.34 |
| Relation of initial onset of tinnitus (etiology) | 0.51 | ||
| Loud blast of sound | 41 | 15.8 | |
| Stress | 37 | 14.2 | |
| Change in hearing | 30 | 11.5 | |
| Head trauma | 2 | 0.8 | |
| Whiplash | 5 | 1.9 | |
| Other | 51 | 19.6 | |
| Do not know | 94 | 36.2 | |
| Tinnitus occurrence | 0.73 | ||
| Occasionally | 34 | 13.1 | |
| Permanently | 226 | 86.9 | |
| Time of day of tinnitus emergence | 0.50 | ||
| When awakening | 20 | 7.7 | |
| In the morning | 8 | 3.1 | |
| Around noon | 24 | 9.2 | |
| In the afternoon | 16 | 6.2 | |
| In the evening | 39 | 15.0 | |
| Before sleeping | 21 | 8.1 | |
| Do not know | 132 | 50.8 | |
| Perceiving the onset of tinnitus | 0.78 | ||
| Gradual | 168 | 64.6 | |
| Abrupt | 92 | 35.4 | |
| Pulsation of tinnitus | 0.69 | ||
| Yes, with heartbeat | 33 | 12.7 | |
| Yes, different from heartbeat | 12 | 4.6 | |
| No | 215 | 82.7 | |
| Location of tinnitus | 0.62 | ||
| Right ear | 25 | 9.6 | |
| Left ear | 35 | 13.5 | |
| Both ears, worse in right ear | 37 | 14.2 | |
| Both ears, worse in left ear | 38 | 14.6 | |
| Both ears equally | 79 | 30.4 | |
| Inside the head | 43 | 16.5 | |
| Elsewhere | 3 | 1.2 | |
| Tinnitus manifestation over time | 0.55 | ||
| Intermittent | 68 | 26.2 | |
| Constant | 192 | 73.8 | |
| Loudness of tinnitus (median, Q1/Q3) | 60 | 35/75 | 0.83 |
| Tinnitus loudness variation from day to day | 0.58 | ||
| Yes | 173 | 66.5 | |
| No | 87 | 33.5 | |
| Percentage of total awake time of tinnitus awareness (median, Q1/Q3) | 60 | 25/100 | 0.71 |
| Percentage of total awake time being distressed by tinnitus (median, Q1/Q3) | 20 | 10/50 | 0.78 |
| Sound of tinnitus | 0.56 | ||
| Tone | 102 | 39.2 | |
| Noise | 108 | 41.5 | |
| Crickets | 36 | 13.8 | |
| Other | 14 | 5.4 | |
| Pitch of tinnitus | 0.47 | ||
| Low frequency | 15 | 5.8 | |
| Medium frequency | 74 | 28.5 | |
| High frequency | 120 | 46.2 | |
| Very high frequency | 51 | 19.6 | |
| Reduction of tinnitus by music or environmental sounds | 0.44 | ||
| Yes | 139 | 53.5 | |
| No | 65 | 25.0 | |
| Do not know | 56 | 21.5 | |
| Worsening of tinnitus by loud noise | 0.54 | ||
| Yes | 133 | 51.2 | |
| No | 82 | 31.5 | |
| Don't know | 45 | 17.3 | |
| Tinnitus affected by head movement or touch | 0.66 | ||
| Yes | 54 | 20.8 | |
| No | 206 | 79.2 | |
| Tinnitus affected by nap | 0.60 | ||
| Yes, worsening of tinnitus | 7 | 2.7 | |
| Yes, reducing of tinnitus | 34 | 13.1 | |
| No, no effect | 219 | 84.2 | |
| Tinnitus affected by sleep at night | 0.35 | ||
| Yes | 49 | 18.8 | |
| No | 103 | 39.6 | |
| Do not know | 108 | 41.5 | |
| Tinnitus affected by stress | 0.70 | ||
| Yes, worsening of tinnitus | 139 | 53.5 | |
| Yes, reducing of tinnitus | 2 | 0.8 | |
| No, no effect | 119 | 45.8 | |
| Tinnitus affected by medication | 0.67 | ||
| Yes | 21 | 8.1 | |
| No | 239 | 91.9 | |
| Contacted a clinician due to tinnitus | 0.69 | ||
| Yes | 160 | 61.5 | |
| No | 100 | 38.5 | |
| Number of different tinnitus treatments | 0.61 | ||
| 0 | 196 | 75.4 | |
| 1 | 18 | 63.9 | |
| 2–4 | 28 | 10.8 | |
| 5 or more | 18 | 6.9 | |
| Tinnitus occurrence in family | 0.74 | ||
| Yes | 187 | 71.9 | |
| No | 73 | 28.1 | |
| Comorbidity | 0.83 | ||
| Yes | 129 | 49.6 | |
| No | 131 | 50.4 | |
| Medication | 0.87 | ||
| Yes | 166 | 63.8 | |
| No | 94 | 36.2 | |
| Currently under treatment for psychiatric problems | 0.73 | ||
| Yes | 16 | 6.2 | |
| No | 244 | 93.8 | |
| Hearing problem | 0.74 | ||
| Yes | 220 | 84.6 | |
| No | 40 | 15.4 | |
| Hearing aids | 0.93 | ||
| Yes, on both ears | 74 | 28.5 | |
| Yes, on the right ear | 8 | 3.1 | |
| Yes, on the left ear | 9 | 3.5 | |
| No | 169 | 65.0 | |
| Problems tolerating sounds | 0.41 | ||
| Never | 41 | 15.8 | |
| Rarely | 44 | 16.9 | |
| Sometimes | 100 | 38.5 | |
| Usually | 49 | 18.8 | |
| Always | 26 | 10.0 | |
| Sounds cause pain or physical discomfort | 0.46 | ||
| Yes | 115 | 44.2 | |
| No | 124 | 47.2 | |
| Do not know | 21 | 8.1 | |
| Headache | 0.77 | ||
| Yes | 56 | 21.5 | |
| No | 204 | 78.5 | |
| Vertigo or dizziness | 0.56 | ||
| Yes | 72 | 27.7 | |
| No | 188 | 72.3 | |
| Temporomandibular disorder | 0.67 | ||
| Yes | 29 | 11.2 | |
| No | 231 | 88.8 | |
| Neck pain | 0.82 | ||
| Yes | 72 | 27.7 | |
| No | 188 | 72.3 | |
| Other pain syndromes | 0.65 | ||
| Yes | 71 | 27.3 | |
| No | 189 | 72.7 | |
Test–retest reliability was assessed by Cohen's kappa coefficient for categorical variables and intra-class correlation coefficient for metric variables. ICCs > 0.70 and Cohen's kappa > 0.60 are considered acceptable. Descriptive data of Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire is presented at initial assessment.