Journal article
Reliability of the Minimum Masking Level as Outcome Variable in Tinnitus Clinical Research
American journal of audiology, Vol.29(3), pp.429-435
09/01/2020
DOI: 10.1044/2020_AJA-20-00047
PMID: 32717149
Abstract
Purpose: The minimum masking level (MML) is the minimum intensity of a stimulus required to just totally mask the tinnitus. Treatments aimed at reducing the tinnitus itself should attempt to measure the magnitude of the tinnitus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the MML.
Method: Sample consisted of 59 tinnitus patients who reported stable tinnitus. We obtained MML measures on two visits, separated by about 2-3 weeks. We used two noise types: speech-shaped noise and high-frequency emphasis noise. We also investigated the relationship between the MML and tinnitus loudness estimates and the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ).
Results: There were differences across the different noise types. The within-session standard deviation averaged across subjects varied between 1.3 and 1.8 dB. Across the two sessions, the Pearson correlation coefficients, range was r = .84. There was a weak relationship between the dB SL MML and loudness, and between the MML and the THQ. A moderate correlation (r = .44) was found between the THQ and loudness estimates.
Conclusions: We conclude that the dB SL MML can be a reliable estimate of tinnitus magnitude, with expected standard deviations in trained subjects of about 1.5 dB. It appears that the dB SL MML and loudness estimates are not closely related.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Reliability of the Minimum Masking Level as Outcome Variable in Tinnitus Clinical Research
- Creators
- Patricia C Mancini - Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisRichard S Tyler - University of IowaHyung Jin Jun - University of IowaTang-Chuan Wang - University of IowaHelena Ji - University of IowaChristina Stocking - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkCarrie Secor - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkEveling Rojas-Roncancio - University of IowaShelley Witt - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of audiology, Vol.29(3), pp.429-435
- Publisher
- AMER SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOC
- DOI
- 10.1044/2020_AJA-20-00047
- PMID
- 32717149
- ISSN
- 1059-0889
- eISSN
- 1558-9137
- Number of pages
- 7
- Grant note
- Auris Medical Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), Brazil; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPQ)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/01/2020
- Academic Unit
- Communication Sciences and Disorders; Otolaryngology
- Record Identifier
- 9984258734802771
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