Tinnitus healthcare in New Zealand

Progress in Brain Research, 2021

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International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 2021

Background: Tinnitus is a common ear problem and causes various somatic and psychological effects that has a bearing on the quality of life. Considerably high prevalence, distressing nature of the problem and the fact that it is associated with hearing impairment warrants an early recognition and appropriate timely intervention.Methods: A total of 120 patients (60 with tinnitus and 60 without tinnitus) were included in the study. Data of putative socio-demographic factors and clinical examination findings were collected on a semi-structured questionnaire.Results: The mean age of patients with tinnitus was 38.12±13.39 while that of patients without tinnitus was 40.85±15.26 (p=0.299). Around two-thirds (63.33%, 95% CI, 51.3–75.7%) of patients with tinnitus were males and the other one-third (36.67%, 95% CI, 24.3–48.7%) were females. Two-thirds (66.7%, 95% CI, 54.6–76.7%) of patients with tinnitus belonged to urban locality and the remaining one-third (33.3%, 95% CI, 23.3–45.4%) were f...

Hearing Research

history instrument for standardised collection of information about the characteristics of the tinnitus patient. Since then, a number of studies have been published which characterise individuals and groups using data collected with this questionnaire. However, its use has been restricted to a clinical setting and to the evaluation of people with tinnitus only. In addition, it is limited in the ability to capture relevant comorbidities and evaluate their temporal relationship with tinnitus. Method: Here we present a new case history instrument which is comprehensive in scope and can be answered by people with and without tinnitus alike. This 'European School for Interdisciplinary Tinnitus Research Screening Questionnaire' (ESIT-SQ) was developed with specific attention to questions about potential risk factors for tinnitus (including demographics, lifestyle, general medical and otological histories), and tinnitus characteristics (including perceptual characteristics, modulating factors, and associations with co-existing conditions). It was first developed in English, then translated into Dutch, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Swedish, thus having broad applicability and supporting international collaboration. Conclusions: With respect to better understanding tinnitus profiles, we anticipate the ESIT-SQ to be a starting point for comprehensive multi-variate analyses of tinnitus. Data collected with the ESIT-SQ can allow establishment of patterns that distinguish tinnitus from non-tinnitus, and definition of common sets of tinnitus characteristics which might be indicated by the presence of otological or comorbid systemic diseases for which tinnitus is a known symptom.

The International Tinnitus Journal

Objectives: This research was conducted to investigate the presenting features of tinnitus in subjects with normal hearing thresholds as compared to the ones with hearing loss. Methodology: Sample population comprised of 175 subjects with tinnitus, in the age range of 18 to 55 years, segregated into two groups: G1 (75 subjects) having normal hearing with tinnitus and G2 (100 subjects) having hearing loss with tinnitus. All the subjects underwent conventional audiometric testing along with a thorough evaluation of all the parameters of tinnitus. Results and Conclusion: Significantly large number of males reported with tinnitus as compared to females. Tinnitus was most prevailing in left ear and these subjects sought intervention earlier than right tinnitus subjects. G1 subjects reported earlier as compared to G2 subjects. Males looked out for specialist's advice earlier than females in both the groups. Large number of subjects in both groups reported with sudden onset and continuous tinnitus.

Acta …, 2012

Tinnitus represents one of the most frequent symptoms observed in the general population in association with different pathologies, although often its etiology remains unclear. Objective of this work is to evidence the main aspects concerning epidemiology, causes, audiological characteristics and psychological consequences of tinnitus.

International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 SJIF (2022): 7.942 Volume 12 Issue 6, June 2023 www.ijsr.net , 2023

Objective: The objective of this cohort study was to conduct a comprehensive investigation of diverse facets of tinnitus, encompassing demographic and clinical features, measurement methodologies, tinnitus attributes, and their correlations with psychological distress and quality of life. Methods: A group of 100 individuals who were diagnosed with tinnitus and were aged ranged from 25 to 75 years was chosen from a tertiary care center. The study's inclusion criteria encompassed a willingness to participate for the complete two-year duration, while individuals with severe psychiatric conditions, cognitive impairments, or unrelated significant hearing disorders were excluded. The assessment of tinnitus characteristics involved the utilization of measurement tools such as Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE), self-reporting methods, and audiometric tests. Data were gathered at regular intervals of six months to account for possible variations over the course of time. Results: A significant proportion of the subjects exhibited tinnitus characterized by high-frequency pitch, while roughly 56% of the sample reported moderate loudness levels. The study found a robust positive association between the loudness of tinnitus and psychological distress. Additionally, tinnitus pitch demonstrated a noteworthy positive correlation with psychological distress and a moderately positive correlation with quality of life. The investigation additionally disclosed connections between the duration of tinnitus and the quality of life; however, the associations exhibited low strength and lacked statistical significance. Conclusion: The current cohort study offers significant insights into the features of tinnitus and their correlations with psychological distress and quality of life. The results underscore the significance of utilizing thorough evaluation methodologies, such as Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE), to achieve precise quantification of tinnitus attributes. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the effects of tinnitus on individuals and have significant implications for the clinical management of tinnitus. Subsequent investigations ought to concentrate on devising interventions that are tailored to address distinct tinnitus attributes and examining the interplay between tinnitus and concurrent ailments. In general, this research contributes to the understanding of tinnitus, providing valuable insights for clinical application and directing future investigations in this area.

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology

Tinnitus is one of the most distressing hearing-related symptoms. It is often associated with a range of physiological and psychological complications, such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Hence, approaching tinnitus from a biopsychological perspective may be more appropriate than from purely a biomedical model. The present study was aimed at determining the relationship between tinnitus and the problems and life effects experienced by UK-based tinnitus research study volunteers. Open-ended questions were used. Responses were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework to understand the impact of tinnitus in a multidimensional manner using a biopsychosocial perspective. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Study sample included a sample of 240 adults with tinnitus who were interested in undertaking an Internet-based intervention for tinnitus. The data were collated using two open-ended questions. The first focuse...

Cureus, 2022

Background Tinnitus is a common complaint in the general population. Subjective tinnitus is defined as a conscious perception of sound with nonexistent external stimuli. Its exact pathophysiology remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of noise-induced tinnitus among adults aged 15-25 years in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Study design Convenience sampling was used for participant recruitment using an online survey that was distributed online between February and April 2022. The participants performed audiometric hearing tests provided by the investigators. Hearing tests were performed at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz. The test was considered normal if the achieved thresholds were 25 dB HL or less in at least four of the tested frequencies. Those with normal results were asked to fill out a survey inquiring about their demographic information, presence of tinnitus, and tinnitus functional index. Results We included 119 young adults aged 15-25 years. Regarding tinnitus prevalence, 27 (22.7%) adults reported the development of tinnitus after exposure to loud noise, 39 (32.8%) had tinnitus of unknown cause, and 53 (44.5%) had no tinnitus. Regarding the continuity of sound, it was continuous in 14.8% of noise-induced tinnitus, compared to 38.5% of the other group, with a statistical significance of (P=.037). Conclusion The current study revealed high prevalence of tinnitus, which was also suggested by the literature. Several triggers are purportedly related to the development of tinnitus. Constant exposure to loud noise is considered a significant risk factor for tinnitus. Young adults require proper education about the causes of tinnitus and other hearing abnormalities. More importantly, methods to protect and maintain their ear health.

… Clinic Journal of …, 2011

Tinnitus is distressing and affects the quality of life for many patients. Because primary care physicians may be the entry point for patients seeking help for tinnitus, we urge them to acknowledge this symptom and its potential negative impact on the patient's health and quality of life. Physicians should actively listen to the patient and provide hope and encouragement, but also provide realistic expectations about the course of treatment. The patient must also understand that there may be no singular "cure" for tinnitus and that management may involve multidisciplinary assessment and treatment.