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April 6, 2026

Tinnitus Self-Assessment — Rate Your Impact in 2 Minutes

Quick Answer
How do I know if my tinnitus is severe?

The tool below measures how tinnitus affects your concentration, sleep, mood, and social life — the same four domains used in clinically validated questionnaires like the THI. A high score does not mean your tinnitus is medically dangerous. It measures perceived impact, not medical severity.

Does this replace a hearing test?

No. This is a self-assessment tool, not a medical diagnosis. If your tinnitus is new, sudden, in one ear only, or accompanied by dizziness, consult a healthcare professional. This test measures perceived impact, not the underlying cause.

2 min testUpdated April 2026Reviewed by the Tinnitus Relief App team

10 questions. 2 minutes. A score that tells you how much tinnitus is affecting your daily life — and what to do next based on your result.

Important: this self-assessment is for informational purposes only. It is not a medical diagnosis. Tinnitus Relief App is not a medical device. If your tinnitus is new, sudden, in one ear only, or accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness, consult a healthcare professional first.

Take the Assessment

Answer each question based on how you have felt most of the time over the past two weeks. There are no right or wrong answers.

Self-Assessment
Question 1 / 10
0
/ 40

Understanding Your Score

This test is inspired by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), a validated questionnaire used in audiology since 1996. The full version has 25 questions. Our simplified version covers the same four domains: concentration, sleep, mood, and social life.

The score does not measure the "volume" of your tinnitus. It measures its impact on your quality of life. Two people with the same tinnitus volume can have very different scores depending on their emotional response and coping strategies.

What to Do Based on Your Score

Score 0–8 — Mild impact

Your tinnitus has minimal impact on daily life. Your current strategies seem to be working. Sound enrichment at low volume can help during quiet moments when the ringing becomes more noticeable.

Score 10–18 — Moderate impact

Tinnitus is starting to affect certain aspects of your life — often sleep or concentration. This is the ideal time to adopt a regular sound therapy routine. Most people in this category benefit significantly from daily sound enrichment.

Score 20–30 — Severe impact

Tinnitus is disrupting multiple areas of daily life. Structured sound enrichment (3–6 hours per day) combined with stress management techniques is recommended. Consider a hearing evaluation if you have not had one. Individual results vary significantly.

Score 32–40 — Very severe impact

Tinnitus dominates your daily life. Consult a healthcare professional — your GP or an audiologist. Sound enrichment can help alongside professional support, but at this level of impact, professional guidance is strongly recommended. Individual results vary significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a medical diagnosis?
No. This is a self-assessment tool inspired by the THI. It measures the perceived impact of your tinnitus, not its cause or medical severity. For a diagnosis, consult your GP or an audiologist who can arrange a hearing evaluation.
Can my score change from week to week?
Yes. Perceived impact fluctuates with stress, sleep, fatigue, and environment. This is normal. Retake the test once a month to track the trend. A gradual decrease in score over time is a sign of habituation.
What does a high score mean?
A high score means tinnitus is significantly impacting your quality of life. It is not a measure of danger — most chronic tinnitus is not medically dangerous. A high score indicates that management strategies and professional support would be beneficial.
Should I see a doctor if my tinnitus is sudden or in one ear?
Yes. Sudden-onset tinnitus, tinnitus in one ear only, or tinnitus accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, or pain should be evaluated by a healthcare professional promptly. This test does not assess those conditions.
Can sound therapy lower my score over time?
Research on sound therapy shows that regular sound enrichment is associated with reductions in THI scores over 3 to 6 months. The app provides the tools — the habituation process is personal and gradual. Individual results vary significantly.
Can I share my result with my audiologist?
Yes. The PDF report includes your score and domain breakdown. It is not a medical document, but it gives a useful starting point for a conversation with your audiologist about the perceived impact of your tinnitus.

Continue Reading

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Disclaimer: Tinnitus Relief App is not a medical device and does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. If your tinnitus is new, sudden, in one ear only, or accompanied by hearing loss, dizziness, or pain, consult a healthcare professional. Individual results vary significantly.
Sources
  1. Newman CW, Jacobson GP, Spitzer JB. Development of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. 1996;122(2):143–148.
  2. McCombe A et al. Guidelines for the grading of tinnitus severity. Clinical Otolaryngology. 2001;26(5):388–393.
  3. Baguley D, McFerran D, Hall D. Tinnitus. The Lancet. 2013;382(9904):1600–1607.
  4. Cima RFF et al. A multidisciplinary European guideline for tinnitus. HNO. 2019;67(Suppl 1):10–42.