Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to translate the Skarzynski Tinnitus Scale (STS) into Arabic, conduct a cross-cultural adaptation, and validate its psychometric properties. Methods: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the STS were carried out in five main steps. A total of 152 participants were divided into two groups: 79 (52%) cases complaining of tinnitus and 73 (48%) in the control group without tinnitus. Results: The scale required no substantial modifications during the translation process. Internal consistency was measured by Cronbach α for each of the three subscales and the total score. The overall psychological distress subscale, Cronbach α was 0.815; for the functional scale α was 0.787; for the coping subscale α was 0.555; and for global STS, α was 0.921. The STS global score and the psychological distress subscale had extremely high consistency. Conclusion: The translation and adaptation of the STS established linguistic and Arabic cultural equivalence with the original version. Furthermore, the adapted version demonstrated good internal consistency. The results suggest that the STS is suitable for use in a clinical setting.
Journal Section:
Research Article
References
1.
2.
Eggermont
JJ
, Roberts
LE
. The neuroscience of tinnitus
. Trends Neurosci
. 2004
;27
(11
):676
–82
. 3.
Heller
AJ
. Classification and epidemiology of tinnitus
. Otolaryngol Clin North Am
. 2003
;36
(2
):239
–48
. 4.
Shin
J
, Heo
S
, Lee
HK
, Tyler
R
, Jin
IK
. Reliability and validity of a Korean version of the tinnitus primary function questionnaire
. Am J Audiol
. 2019
;28
(2
):362
–8
. 5.
Hall
DA
, Zaragoza Domingo
S
, Hamdache
LZ
, Manchaiah
V
, Thammaiah
S
, Evans
C
, International Collegium of Rehabilitative Audiology and TINnitus Research NETwork
, et al. A good practice guide for translating and adapting hearing-related questionnaires for different languages and cultures
. Int J Audiol
. 2018
;57
(3
):161
–75
. 6.
Skarżyński
H
, Gos
E
, Raj-Koziak
D
, Skarżyński
PH
. Skarzynski Tinnitus Scale: validation of a brief and robust tool for assessing tinnitus in a clinical population
. Eur J Med Res
. 2018
;23
(1
):54
. 7.
Newman
CW
, Sandridge
SA
, Jacobson
GP
. Psychometric adequacy of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) for evaluating treatment outcome
. J Am Acad Audiol
. 1998
;9
(2
):153
–60
.8.
Oron
Y
, Sergeeva
NV
, Kazlak
M
, Barbalat
I
, Spevak
S
, Lopatin
AS
, et al. A Russian adaptation of the tinnitus handicap inventory
. Int J Audiol
. 2015
;54
(7
):485
–9
. 9.
Oron
Y
, Shushan
S
, Kreitler
S
, Roth
Y
. A Hebrew adaptation of the tinnitus handicap inventory
. Int J Audiol
. 2011
;50
(6
):426
–30
. 10.
Barake
R
, Rizk
SA
, Ziade
G
, Zaytoun
G
, Bassim
M
. Adaptation of the Arabic version of the tinnitus handicap inventory
. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
. 2016
;154
(3
):508
–12
. 11.
Wild
D
, Grove
A
, Martin
M
, Eremenco
S
, McElroy
S
, Verjee-Lorenz
A
, et al. Principles of good practice for the translation and cultural adaptation process for patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures: report of the ISPOR task force for translation and cultural adaptation
. Value Health
. 2005
;8
(2
):94
–104
. 12.
Cerejeira
R
, Cerejeira
J
, Paiva
S
, Gonçalves
P
, Firmino
H
, Quartilho
M
, et al. The Portuguese version of Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire: brief screening test for assessment of tinnitus-induced stress
. Otol Neurotol
. 2009
;30
(1
):112
–5
. 13.
Mores
JT
, Bozza
A
, Magni
C
, Casali
RL
, Amaral
MIRD
. Clinical profile and implications of tinnitus in individuals with and without hearing loss
. CoDAS
. 2019
;31
(6
):e20180029
. 14.
Wu
BP
, Searchfield
G
, Exeter
DJ
, Lee
A
. Tinnitus prevalence in New Zealand
. N Z Med J
. 2015
;128
(1423
):24
–34
.15.
Henry
JA
, Dennis
KC
, Schechter
MA
. General review of tinnitus: prevalence, mechanisms, effects, andmanagement
. J Speech Lang Hear Res
. 2005
;48
(5
):1204
–35
. 16.
Vielsmeier
V
, Lehner
A
, Strutz
J
, Steffens
T
, Kreuzer
PM
, Schecklmann
M
, et al. The relevance of the high frequency Audiometry in tinnitus patients with normal hearing in conventional pure-tone Audiometry
. Biomed Res Int
. 2015
;2015
:302515
. 17.
Sindhusake
D
, Golding
M
, Wigney
D
, Newall
P
, Jakobsen
K
, Mitchell
P
. Factors predicting severity of tinnitus: a populationbased assessment
. J Am Acad Audiol
. 2004
;15
(4
):269
–80
. 18.
Milerová
J
, Anders
M
, Dvořák
T
, Sand
PG
, Königer
S
, Langguth
B
. The influence of psychological factors on tinnitus severity
. Gen Hosp Psychiatry
. 2013
;35
(4
):412
–6
. 19.
Crönlein
T
, Langguth
B
, Pregler
M
, Kreuzer
PM
, Wetter
TC
, Schecklmann
M
. Insomnia in patients with chronic tinnitus: cognitive and emotional distress as moderator variables
. J Psychosom Res
. 2016
;83
:65
–8
. 20.
Ooms
E
, Vanheule
S
, Meganck
R
, Vinck
B
, Watelet
JB
, Dhooge
I
. Tinnitus severity and its association with cognitive and somatic anxiety: a critical study
. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
. 2012
;269
(11
):2327
–33
. 21.
Ziai
K
, Moshtaghi
O
, Mahboubi
H
, Djalilian
HR
. Tinnitus patients suffering from anxiety and depression: a review
. Int Tinnitus J
. 2017
;21
(1
):68
–73
. 22.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy Trial Research Group
, Scherer
RW
, Formby
C
. Effect of tinnitus retraining therapy vs standard of care on tinnitus-related quality of life: a randomized clinical trial
. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
. 2019
;145
(7
):597
–608
. 23.
Cohen
R
, Swerdlik
M
. Psychological testing and assessment: an introduction to tests and measurement
. 6th ed. New York
: McGraw-Hill
; 2005
.24.
Müller
K
, Edvall
NK
, Idrizbegovic
E
, Huhn
R
, Cima
R
, Persson
V
, et al. Validation of online versions of tinnitus questionnaires translated into Swedish
. Front Aging Neurosci
. 2016
;8
:272
. 25.
Shaurya
C
, Ravichandran
A
, Kumar
S
. Transadaptation and standardization of tinnitus primary function questionnaire in Hindi
. Int Tinnitus J
. 2018
;22
(1
):23
–9
. 26.
Podury
A
, Jiam
NT
, Kim
M
, Donnenfield
JI
, Dhand
A
. Hearing and sociality: the implications of hearing loss on social life
. Front Neurosci
. 2023
;17
:1245434
. 27.
Jayakody
DM
, Wishart
J
, Stegeman
I
, Eikelboom
R
, Moyle
TC
, Yiannos
JM
, et al. Is there an association between untreated hearing loss and psychosocial outcomes
. Front Aging Neurosci
. 2022
;14
:868673
. © 2025 S. Karger AG, Basel
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
2025
You do not currently have access to this content.
