Specialised Assessments — Sleep Hygiene, Tinnitus & Digital Stress Tests
Sleep Hygiene Index, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire, Digital Stress Scale — specialised assessments in the Mindtalk app.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Abhimanyu Chandak, MD in Psychiatry, MBBS. Last reviewed 2026-09-25.
What this hub covers
Specialised mental-health-adjacent assessments.
- Sleep Hygiene Index (in the Mindtalk app) — behaviours affecting sleep quality.
- Sleep Health Check (SHC) (in the Mindtalk app) — sleep quality and pattern.
- Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) (in the Mindtalk app) — impact of tinnitus.
- Audiology Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ) (in the Mindtalk app) — tinnitus distress.
- Digital Stress Scale (DSS) (in the Mindtalk app) — digital-life-specific stress.
Sleep — the highest-leverage lifestyle dimension
Chronic sleep disruption predicts depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, and metabolic problems. Sleep problems often precede mental health conditions.
CBT-I (Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia) — Gold standard. 6-8 sessions. Stronger evidence than sleep medications long-term. Components: stimulus control, sleep restriction, cognitive work, relaxation, sleep hygiene.
Medical rule-outs — Sleep apnoea (particularly men over 40, obesity, snoring), thyroid dysfunction, restless legs, medications affecting sleep.
Tinnitus — the sound doesn't change, but the distress can
Tinnitus itself is a hearing / neurological phenomenon that psychological treatment doesn't change. But the DISTRESS caused by tinnitus is highly treatable:
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) — Structured protocol combining sound therapy and counselling.
CBT for tinnitus — Targeting catastrophising, avoidance, and distress cognitions.
Mindfulness-based interventions — Increasing acceptance and reducing reactivity to the sound.
THI and TRQ measure distress and handicap — the clinical targets, not the loudness of the tinnitus itself.
Digital stress — a modern pattern
Documented in research since 2010:
- Constant connectivity expectations
- Information overload
- Comparison from social media
- Notification fragmentation
- Sleep and health impacts
Associated with anxiety, sleep disturbance, and reduced life satisfaction. See the Lifestyle & Modern Stress hub for detailed coverage.
Children and adolescents
For children and adolescents, assessment should be done by child specialists — Cadabam's Child Development Centre offers developmental and mental health assessments for young people. Adults concerned about dissociation can use the Dissociation hub.
When to see a specialist
- Chronic sleep problems (over 3 weeks)
- Tinnitus impairing sleep, mood, or daily function
- Digital stress with anxiety or sleep impact
Mindtalk's clinicians work across these specialised presentations, in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mysore, and online for anywhere in India.
Related reading
- Lifestyle & Modern Stress hub
- Stress & Tension hub
- Dissociation hub
- PHQ-9 depression — sleep, tinnitus, and stress can all drive depression
- Mindtalk's clinicians across India
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do these need specialised tests?
- Each represents a specific presentation that benefits from targeted assessment: (1) Sleep problems have their own hygiene and quality assessments (Sleep Hygiene Index); (2) Tinnitus distress is captured by specific instruments (THI, TRQ); (3) Digital stress is a modern pattern that traditional stress measures miss. Using the right instrument matters for accurate assessment and targeted intervention.
- Should I take these alongside standard mental health screeners?
- Yes — they're complementary. Sleep problems often drive or worsen depression / anxiety; taking [PHQ-9](/assessments/phq-9) + [GAD-7](/assessments/gad-7) alongside Sleep Hygiene Index gives a complete picture. Tinnitus distress often co-occurs with anxiety; take [GAD-7](/assessments/gad-7) alongside. Digital stress often paired with general stress ([PSS-10](/assessments/pss-10)).
- What treatment works for sleep problems?
- Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard — 6-8 sessions, stronger evidence than sleep medications long-term. Sleep hygiene alone often insufficient; CBT-I includes stimulus control, sleep restriction, cognitive work, and relaxation. Ruling out medical causes (sleep apnoea, thyroid, restless legs) matters.
- What about tinnitus?
- Tinnitus itself is a hearing / neurological phenomenon — but the DISTRESS caused by tinnitus is highly treatable psychologically. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), CBT for tinnitus, and mindfulness-based interventions substantially reduce tinnitus-related distress even when the sound itself doesn't change. TRQ and THI measure distress and handicap — the clinical targets.
- What about dissociation?
- Dissociation is a disconnection between thoughts, feelings, identity, or perception — from mild "spacing out" to severe identity disruption. Adults can use the screeners in the [Dissociation hub](/assessments/dissociation). For children and adolescents, assessment should be done by child specialists — [Cadabam's Child Development Centre](https://www.cadabamscdc.com/) offers developmental and mental health assessments for young people.
- When should I see a specialist?
- Depends on the specific concern. Sleep problems chronic: sleep specialist or CBT-I therapist. Tinnitus distress: audiologist + CBT-trained clinician. Digital stress impairing life: general clinician + boundary work. Mindtalk's clinicians work across these presentations.
Need a clinician's read on your results?
A high score is a signal, not a diagnosis. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can interpret your results and recommend next steps — same-day appointments available.