The International Tinnitus Journal

A Call for Standards and Outcome Measures for Tinnitus Diagnosis/Treatment

The 21^st century is rapidly approaching. We as health care professionals realize the ever increasing demands made by managed health care systems, third party payers and patients wanting assurances that services provided are of proven value and "cost effective". Nowhere is this more evident than in the field of Tinnitology, especially for patients suffering from tinnitus of the severe disabling type. We have not yet met the challenge. The need for standards and the use of outcome measures is urgent. The need for valid and objective measures as well as subjective measures is well recognized. We must respond by developing an acceptable group of outcome standards for tinnitus to satisfy the demands of managed health care, patients and to improve communication among health care professionals.