Tinnitus Functional Index

Neuroscience & CBT Protocol Developed for Severe & Very Severe Tinnitus Distress

Latest feedback

From Juha in Finland

Q: Would you recommend others with severe tinnitus distress to use the course, and if so, what would you say to them?

A: "Yes, I would highly recommend this course. If you have tried (or read about) cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for tinnitus distress before and it didn’t help, don’t be discouraged. This course is exceptionally well planned and organized, and the process is long enough (12 stages, at least 12 weeks, usually more) to make the change possible. The course aims to help not only with tinnitus distress but also with the anxiety, the trauma reactions and the depressive symptoms, which are often part and parcel of the situation. That and the combination of neuroscience, trauma psychotherapy perspective and CBT makes this course unique."

See more of Juha's feedback and others

What’s your TFI?

The Tinnitus Functional Index is a widely used, fully researched and validated tool that measures how well an individual is able to function in their daily life when living with tinnitus.

The 12 part CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme was specifically developed for those experiencing severe (TFI category 4) and very severe (TFI category 5) problems because of tinnitus (a TFI of over 54%). The programme is also suitable for those experiencing moderate (TFI category 3) problems with tinnitus.

As a culmination of 30 years as a Hearing Therapy specialist in tinnitus, qualified psychotherapist and CBT and tinnitus specialist, the programme combines 1-1 support (using Zoom, email, interactive logs and bespoke tools) with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Excellent Outcomes can be expected and you can see others’ feedback

Complete a TFI below, receive your results and recommended way forward. It's easy to enrol and you can start straightaway.

Before you complete and send in your TFI, please ensure you have read and understood our Conditions of Use and be aware that from 1st July 2018, the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme is therapist-supported by Debbie Featherstone, Hearing Therapist & Psychotherapist Specialist in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and tinnitus. Your TFI is calculated manually. You will receive your result by email as soon as possible (usually within a few hours during work times) along with a full breakdown of your 8 subscales within the TFI IF you request them at the end of the questionnaire

The aim of this questionnaire is to identify how much tinnitus is affecting you in terms of intrusiveness, sense of control, ability to concentrate, sleep disturbance, auditory difficulties due to tinnitus, your ability to relax, quality of life and emotional distress (the 8 subscales)

The TFI categories are based on your total TFI score as follows:

Category 1: 0-43 (0-17% - not a problem)
Category 2: 43- 79 (18-31% - small problem)
Category 3: 79-134 (32-53% - moderate problem)
Category 4: 134-180 (54-72% - big problem)
Category 5: 180-250 (73-100% - very big problem)

The TFI identifies how tinnitus is affecting you "quanititively" as do the other validated measures for stress and anxiety used when you enrol. Additionally, there are IMPACT STATEMENTS at the end of the pre-Stage 1 section "The Amygdala" that identify how tinnitus affects you "qualitatively".

Complete your TFI and press send:

TINNITUS FUNCTIONAL INDEX (TFI)

Name:*

Date*

Age*

CONSENT:*

I give my explicit consent for the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme to receive details of my name, email address, country and my answers to the Tinnitus Functional Index. I give my permission to be contacted by email and for the information I give to be kept securely. I confirm that I have read and agree to the Conditions of Use of the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme.
I agree

TFI Copyright: Oregon Health & Science University 2008 - Permission to use registered to Debbie Featherstone in 2012

Your email*

Repeat Your email*

Town/City:*

County/State:*

Country*

Other country e.g. Spain, France etc

Emergency contact (following a loss of email contact by a TEP user, it's a good idea to have a second way to be in touch - only in such cases as loss of emails)

Your mobile number (for UK and Ireland only) OR alternate email address

How did you find out about CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme?*

Are you a Member of Tinnitus UK?*

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ABOUT HOW YOUR TFI RESULTS MAY BE USED FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES

* I agree that the anonymous results of my TFI may be included in future research of the Tinnitus E-Programme, by Debbie Featherstone and NIHR NHBRC (National Institute of Hearing Research, Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre) and that my personal data is NOT for publication.

Please choose your answer from the dropdown menu:*

Please read each question below carefully. To answer a question, select ONE of the numbers listed for that question (in dropdown menu)

INTRUSIVENESS: Over the PAST WEEK

1. What percentage of your time awake were you consciously AWARE OF your tinnitus?*

2. How STRONG or LOUD was your tinnitus?*

3. What percentage of your time awake were you ANNOYED by your tinnitus?*

SENSE OF CONTROL: Over the PAST WEEK

4. Did you feel IN CONTROL in regard to your tinnitus?*

5. How easy was it for you to COPE with your tinnitus?*

6. How easy was it for you to IGNORE your tinnitus?*

CONCENTRATION: Over the PAST WEEK

7. How much has tinnitus interfered with your ability to CONCENTRATE?*

8. How much has tinnitus interfered with your ability to THINK CLEARLY?*

9. How much has tinnitus interfered with your ability to FOCUS ATTENTION on other things besides your tinnitus?*

SLEEP: Over the PAST WEEK

10. How often did your tinnitus make it difficult to FALL ASLEEP or STAY ASLEEP?*

11. How often did your tinnitus cause you difficulty in getting AS MUCH SLEEP as you needed?*

12. How much of the time did your tinnitus keep you from SLEEPING as DEEPLY or as PEACEFULLY as you would have liked?*

AUDITORY: Over the PAST WEEK, how much has your tinnitus interfered with...

13. Your ability to HEAR CLEARLY?*

14. Your ability to UNDERSTAND PEOPLE who are talking?*

15. Your ability to FOLLOW CONVERSATIONS in a group or at meetings?*

RELAXATION: Over the PAST WEEK, how much has your tinnitus interfered with...

16. Your QUIET RESTING ACTIVITIES?*

17. Your ability to RELAX? *

18. Your ability to enjoy "PEACE AND QUIET"?*

QUALITY OF LIFE: Over the PAST WEEK, how much has your tinnitus interfered with...

19. Your enjoyment of SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?*

20. Your ENJOYMENT OF LIFE?*

21. Your RELATIONSHIPS with family, friends and other people?*

22. How often did your tinnitus cause you to have difficulty performing your WORK OR OTHER TASKS, such as home maintenance, school work, or caring for children or others?*

EMOTIONAL: Over the PAST WEEK

23. How ANXIOUS or WORRIED has your tinnitus made you feel?*

24. How BOTHERED or UPSET have you been because of your tinnitus?*

25. How DEPRESSED were you because of your tinnitus?*

THANK YOU for completing the TFI.

I am happy to contact you by email with useful information about enrolment, recommended option(s) and if you would like your results calculated including the subscales results*

Now, review your answers in case you want to make any changes, then press SEND

You will receive a copy of your answers in an email by return