A Qualitative Study of Veterans' Perspectives on Tinnitus: An Invisible Wound.
Khaya D Clark, Laura Coco, Tara Zaugg and 4 others
PMID 37983172WHAT IT FOUND
Veterans with tinnitus described difficulties with communication, sleep, and concentration.
Many were told nothing could be done, leading to disappointment with hearing aids and coping strategies that did not remove the sound. They wanted help with daily function, not just a cure.
Key findings
01Veterans reported that tinnitus negatively impacted daily functioning, specifically causing difficulties with listening and communication, sleep disturbance, and trouble with concentration.
02Many Veterans expressed disappointment with hearing aids because the devices did not eliminate the tinnitus, even when they helped with focus or reduced initial awareness of the sound.
03Some Veterans felt their tinnitus was minimized by providers or were told nothing could be done, which contributed to feelings of resignation and frustration with available services.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relies on self-reported data from a voluntary sample, which may include Veterans with stronger opinions about tinnitus than the general population. The interviews were conducted before the widespread adoption of telehealth, so barriers related to in-person care may have changed. The sample size was small (40 participants), limiting the generalizability of the themes to all Veterans with tinnitus. Comorbid conditions such as PTSD, TBI, and depression were common, making it difficult to isolate the specific effects of tinnitus from these other health issues.
Declared interests
The study was conducted by researchers at the VA Portland Health Care System. No external funding or conflicts of interest are reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that hearing aids are ineffective for tinnitus management based on this study. While some Veterans reported disappointment because the aids did not eliminate the sound, others found them helpful for reducing focus on the tinnitus. The issue may be unmet expectations rather than device failure.