Why Is Tinnitus a Problem? A Qualitative Analysis of Problems Reported by Tinnitus Patients.
Emily J Watts, Kathryn Fackrell, Sandra Smith and 3 others
PMID 30482102WHAT IT FOUND
Tinnitus patients gave 994 problem statements, grouped into 18 domains.
Reduced quality of life and Fear were the largest domains, with 125 and 107 codes. Constant awareness, annoyance and inability to concentrate were also common.
Key findings
01Free-text answers from 678 tinnitus patients were coded into 994 problem statements and grouped into 18 domains.
02Reduced quality of life and Fear were the largest domains, with 125 and 107 problem codes.
03The problem domains were largely independent; Loss of peace and Need for knowledge were most often reported together, while Quality of life and Constant awareness were least often reported together.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The data came from a private tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic, so the patients may not represent people using free-at-point-of-access services. Records were collected between 1989 and 2014, so the problems reported may not match current patients or current support and information. Answers were recorded by one audiologist on an interview form, not self-reported or audio-recorded, so the exact wording cannot be fully verified. Some demographic information was missing. 252 patients reported hearing problems, but only 54 used hearing aids, so some hearing complaints may reflect unacknowledged hearing loss rather than tinnitus. Reporting a reason why tinnitus is a problem does not prove tinnitus caused it; some problems may be ascribed or confused with tinnitus. The study generates themes from patients' words; it does not test whether any treatment works.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 18 domains as proof that tinnitus caused these problems. Patients gave reasons, and some problems may be ascribed or confused with tinnitus.