Tool · Assessment

Índice Funcional de Tinnitus (TFI)

Mida cómo afecta el tinnitus su sueño, concentración, relajación y vida diaria en una escala clínica de 0 a 100.

About 8–10 minutes 25 questions 8 subscales

This is the validated Tinnitus Functional Index developed by Meikle et al. (2012). Your results can help guide conversations with your care team.

Ver video en Canva (se abre en una ventana nueva) ↗

Leer la transcripción del video y los puntos clave

Puntos clave (guía de 60 segundos):

Seguridad médica y de crisis primero: Busque atención médica urgente ante pérdida auditiva súbita (en ≤72 horas), tinnitus pulsátil (al ritmo del pulso) o en un solo oído, o vértigo intenso; llame o envíe un texto al 988 si siente angustia grave. Consulte la Guía de emergencia.
Qué mide el TFI: Desarrollada por Meikle et al. (2012), esta herramienta clínica de 25 preguntas evalúa su última semana de 0 a 100 en 8 subescalas (Intrusión, Control, Concentración, Sueño, Audición, Relajación, Calidad de vida y Estado emocional).
De las subescalas a la acción: Una reducción de ~13 puntos con el tiempo indica una mejoría clínicamente significativa; lleve su puntaje y gráfico de subescalas a su audiólogo/a, médico/a ORL o especialista en TCC.

Transcripción del video (0:00–1:00):

(0:00–0:08) ¿Se pregunta qué áreas de su vida afecta más el tinnitus? El Índice Funcional de Tinnitus, o TFI, le ofrece una base clínica clara de cero a cien.
(0:08–0:17) Primero, verifique si hay síntomas urgentes. Busque atención médica ante pérdida auditiva súbita en 72 horas, tinnitus con el pulso o de un solo lado, o vértigo intenso; y llame o envíe texto al 988 si siente angustia grave.
(0:17–0:26) Al responder las 25 preguntas de abajo, piense en su última semana en ocho áreas: sueño, concentración, relajación, audición y estado de ánimo.
(0:26–0:36) Su puntaje total de cero a cien muestra el impacto general, y repetir el TFI con el tiempo permite medir su progreso: bajar trece puntos o más indica una mejoría real.
(0:36–0:45) El desglose por subescalas es igual de útil: le indica si debe empezar con enriquecimiento sonoro para dormir, sonido suave para concentrarse o una prueba auditiva.
(0:45–0:53) Puede guardar o imprimir su informe TFI para compartirlo con su audiólogo, médico otorrinolaringólogo o terapeuta cognitivo-conductual.
(0:53–1:00) Desplácese hacia abajo para evaluar su última semana y obtener su puntaje TFI y plan personalizado.

Rate your experience over the past week

Think about your experiences over the last week. There are no right or wrong answers.

Section 1 of 8 · I

Intrusiveness

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

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

0% Never 100% Always

2. How STRONG or LOUD was your tinnitus?

0 Not at all 10 Extremely

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

0% Never 100% Always

Section 2 of 8 · SC

Sense of Control

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

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

0 Very much in control 10 Never in control

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

0 Very easy 10 Impossible

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

0 Very easy 10 Impossible

Section 3 of 8 · C

Cognitive

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

1. How much did your tinnitus interfere with your ability to CONCENTRATE?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

2. How much did your tinnitus interfere with your ability to THINK CLEARLY?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

3. How much did your tinnitus interfere with your ability to FOCUS ATTENTION on other things?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

Section 4 of 8 · SL

Sleep

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

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

0 Never 10 Always

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

0 Never 10 Always

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

0 None of the time 10 All of the time

Section 5 of 8 · A

Auditory

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

1. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your ability to HEAR CLEARLY?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

2. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your ability to UNDERSTAND PEOPLE who are talking?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

3. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your ability to FOLLOW CONVERSATIONS in a group or noisy environment?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

Section 6 of 8 · R

Relaxation

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

1. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your QUIET RESTING ACTIVITIES?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

2. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your ability to RELAX?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

3. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your ability to enjoy PEACE AND QUIET?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

Section 7 of 8 · Q

Quality of Life

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

1. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your enjoyment of SOCIAL ACTIVITIES?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

2. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your ENJOYMENT OF LIFE?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

3. How much has your tinnitus interfered with your RELATIONSHIPS with friends, family, and other people?

0 Did not interfere 10 Completely interfered

4. How often did your tinnitus cause difficulty performing your WORK OR OTHER TASKS?

0 Never 10 Always

Section 8 of 8 · E

Emotional

Over the past week, rate your experience on a 0-10 scale.

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

0 Not at all 10 Extremely

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

0 Not at all 10 Extremely

3. How DEPRESSED were you because of your tinnitus?

0 Not at all 10 Extremely

Your TFI Score

See how tinnitus affects your daily life.

TFI

Complete all 8 sections to see your personalized TFI score and subscale breakdown.

Your primary concern

Tinnitus is driving most of your bother

Your answers suggest the ringing/buzzing itself is the main source of difficulty, rather than trouble hearing others. This is useful information for your care team.

Recommended resources:

Your primary concern

Hearing difficulty is driving most of your bother

Your answers suggest trouble understanding speech is the main source of difficulty. Tinnitus may be present, but hearing challenges are having a bigger impact on your daily life.

Recommended resources:

Your primary concern

Both tinnitus AND hearing are significant concerns

Your answers suggest both the ringing AND difficulty hearing are causing problems. This is common — the two often go together, and treating one can sometimes help the other.

Recommended resources:

Understanding Tinnitus
What to Expect at a Hearing Test
Hearing Aid Features Guide (many aids include tinnitus masking)
Communication Strategies 101

Tip: When both are present, a comprehensive audiological evaluation can help your team create a plan that addresses both together.

Good news

Currently low impact on daily life

Your answers suggest that tinnitus and hearing difficulties are not causing major problems right now. That's great!

If things change, you can always come back to reassess. In the meantime:

Protect your hearing in loud environments.
Consider a baseline hearing test if you haven't had one recently.
Monitor for any changes in symptoms.

Helpful resources:

This tool can’t see the whole picture — use it as a map to bring into appointments, not as a replacement for care. Tinnitus journeys are highly individual; needing more support is not a failure.

Building your tinnitus care team

Wherever you live, the core ingredients of tinnitus care are similar: thoughtful medical/audiology evaluation, clear education, tools for day‑to‑day coping, and support for mood and sleep. Local resources vary, but the pathway principles stay the same.