Multivariate Analysis Using Quantification Theory to Evaluate Acoustic Characteristics of the Onomatopoeic Expression of Tinnitus

Acoustic characteristics of onomatopoeic expression in 242 patients with unilateral and 1type of tinnitus were analyzed using Hayashi's quantification theory III. Three axes, corresponding to subjective volume, tonality, and pitch of tinnitus, were obtained. The acoustic characteristics of the Japanese onomatopoeic expressions “kiin” and “jiin” differed in subjective tonality. Cluster analysis, applied to evaluate similarities among onomatopoeic expressions of tinnitus, showed that the onomatopoeias of “miin” and “siin, ” “pii” and “buun, ” “uuu” and “waan, ” and “zaa” and “shaa” had similar acoustic characteristics. These results may be useful in comparing change in acoustic characteristics of the onomatopoeic expression of tinnitus before and after medical treatment.