THE ROLE OF DYSFUNCTIONAL COGNITIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC TINNITUS
Supplemental Digital Content 1: Appendix
Tinnitus Cognitions Scale (T-Cog)
Please specify to which extent the following statements apply to you personally or rather which statement you agree with. In your answer please
refer to your typical distress caused by your tinnitus in the past (approximately during the last four weeks). You have four options to answer for
each statement:
0 = not right
1 = somewhat right
2 = mostly right
3 = completely right
Please mark the number with a cross that applies to you best. Please do not leave out any statements.
1.
I immediately get worried when I feel like something regarding my ears or my hearing is
not
somewhat
mostly
completely
right
right
right
right
0
1
2
3
changing.
2.
It must be a serious case if the tinnitus is not treatable by medication.
0
1
2
3
3.
Sudden worsening of my tinnitus may signalize a permanent deterioration.
0
1
2
3
4.
Sometimes the tinnitus drives me mad, then I think about having a brain tumor in my head.
0
1
2
3
5.
The tinnitus is going to drive me out of my mind.
0
1
2
3
6.
I try to live in a way that prevents worsening of my tinnitus.
0
1
2
3
THE ROLE OF DYSFUNCTIONAL COGNITIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC TINNITUS
7.
I have to avoid noise to protect my hearing.
0
1
2
3
8.
If I do not take care of my ears and my hearing permanently worsening could occur unnoticed.
0
1
2
3
9.
I quite often ask myself why the tinnitus hit just me.
0
1
2
3
10. The tinnitus is probably the first sign telling me that my body is slowly degenerating.
0
1
2
3
11. If the tinnitus gets worse I constantly wonder what is causing it.
0
1
2
3
12. Because of the tinnitus I have to be careful not to expose myself to environmental toxins.
0
1
2
3
13. As long as I suffer from tinnitus I will never be able to concentrate as well as before.
0
1
2
3
14. I would advise others not suffering from tinnitus yet to get examined extensively by an ear
0
1
2
3
15. I must find a way to have total silence around me.
0
1
2
3
16. Sometimes I ask myself how bad such a tinnitus can get.
0
1
2
3
17. Unfortunately I have to decide between participation in normal everyday life and the concern
0
1
2
3
18. If my tinnitus is already bad in the morning, I know this won´t turn into a good day.
0
1
2
3
19. Young people should be warned desperately not to go to discos in order to avoid unnecessarily
0
1
2
3
specialist regularly.
about my hearing.
risking a tinnitus.
THE ROLE OF DYSFUNCTIONAL COGNITIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC TINNITUS
20. I assume the tinnitus will certainly get worse.
0
1
2
3
21. If the tinnitus gets any worse it will damage my hearing.
0
1
2
3
22. Before the tinnitus everything was alright - now everything is awful.
0
1
2
3
The following items were excluded:
(1)
It is possible to know with absolute certainty whether the tinnitus is due to a serious illness or not.
(2)
Either me or my doctor must be able to find an explanation for my tinnitus and the associated symptoms.
(3)
Tinnitus patients should consult an ear specialist regularly to prevent a deterioration of the tinnitus.
(4)
I am well informed about tinnitus and everything associated with it, in order to not overlook anything concerning myself.
(5)
I could have avoided my tinnitus if I had regularly gone to the ear specialist before.
(6)
If you have healthy ears, you never have ear noises.
(7)
The tinnitus means that I have an increased risk of stroke.
(8)
I believe that my tinnitus was caused by electronic or electromagnetic radiation (e.g., cell phone, computer, electric cables).
(9)
My tinnitus is a sign that I might get a heart attack.
(10) I am almost certain that I will never get rid of my tinnitus.
(11) I cannot risk a cold as it might affect my ears.