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April 6, 2026

Tinnitus Self-Assessment — Rate Your Impact in 2 Minutes

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

How much is tinnitus affecting your life? This free 10-question test measures impact on your focus, sleep, and mood — with personalised recommendations based on your score.

Take the test now

Important: this is an informational self-assessment, not a medical diagnosis. If your tinnitus is new, sudden, in one ear only, or accompanied by dizziness, consult a healthcare professional.

Your 10-Question Assessment

Answer based on how you have felt most of the time over the past two weeks.

Self-Assessment — Inspired by the THI
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Quick Answer
How do I know if my tinnitus is severe?

The assessment above measures how tinnitus affects your focus, sleep, mood, and social life — the same four domains used in the clinically validated THI questionnaire. 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.

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 can have very different scores depending on their emotional response and coping strategies. Individual results vary significantly.

When to See a Professional

Whatever your score, consult a GP or audiologist if your tinnitus is recent (less than 3 months), sudden, in one ear only, pulsatile, or accompanied by hearing loss. Pulsatile tinnitus — a rhythmic sound in time with your heartbeat — always warrants professional evaluation.

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 — chronic tinnitus is generally 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 in some people. The app provides the tools — the habituation process is personal and gradual. Individual results vary significantly.
How long does habituation take?
Habituation is a gradual process. Some people report a decrease in perceived impact within weeks, others over several months. Regular sound enrichment and stress management are the two most studied factors. Individual results vary significantly.

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.