The progression of chronic tinnitus over the years
Abstract Little is known about the trajectory of tinnitus over time. This study addressed (1) how often tinnitus remitted in patients with chronic tinnitus; (2) how subjective reported tinnitus characteristics, such as loudness, laterality, and type and measures of burden, such as tinnitus distress,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-02-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83068-5 |
| _version_ | 1818420902889521152 |
|---|---|
| author | Jorge P. Simões Patrick K. A. Neff Berthold Langguth Winfried Schlee Martin Schecklmann |
| author_facet | Jorge P. Simões Patrick K. A. Neff Berthold Langguth Winfried Schlee Martin Schecklmann |
| author_sort | Jorge P. Simões |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Little is known about the trajectory of tinnitus over time. This study addressed (1) how often tinnitus remitted in patients with chronic tinnitus; (2) how subjective reported tinnitus characteristics, such as loudness, laterality, and type and measures of burden, such as tinnitus distress, depression, and quality of life, changes over time; (3) how often tinnitus-specific treatments were undertaken and the prevalence of comorbidities, (4) if the number of treatments and comorbidities were associated to changes in tinnitus distress over time. Data from 388 patients with chronic tinnitus who visited a tertiary tinnitus clinic between 2012 and 2017 were interrogated via a mail survey in 2018. Tinnitus characteristics were measured with the Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire and numeric rating scales; tinnitus distress with Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), depression with the Major Depression Inventory and Quality of life with the World Health Organisation Quality of Life BREF at both time points and the clinical global impression scale. Comorbidities experienced and undertaken treatments were assessed with an in-house survey. Three participants (0.8% of the sample) reported tinnitus remission between both assessments. A decrease in the THI and TQ, and numeric ratings for tinnitus severity, annoyance, unpleasantness, and discomfort was observed, but no differences in tinnitus characteristics, depression, quality of life or overall health status. 64% presented at least one comorbidity, and 88% sought at least on tinnitus-specific treatment. Common comorbidities were psychological and sleeping problems, and the most common interventions were going to the dentist, taking medications, and wearing hearing aids. Our results suggest that full remission of tinnitus is a rare condition, that tinnitus distress on average decreases over time, and that tinnitus characteristics, quality of life, and depression tend to remain unaltered. The high number of interventions and comorbidities displayed minimal association to the changes in tinnitus distress, highlighting the substantial and durable burden of tinnitus sufferers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:01:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9b4f958493d4e27a440b2485c570be2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T13:01:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9b4f958493d4e27a440b2485c570be22022-12-21T23:00:26ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-02-011111710.1038/s41598-021-83068-5The progression of chronic tinnitus over the yearsJorge P. Simões0Patrick K. A. Neff1Berthold Langguth2Winfried Schlee3Martin Schecklmann4Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of RegensburgAbstract Little is known about the trajectory of tinnitus over time. This study addressed (1) how often tinnitus remitted in patients with chronic tinnitus; (2) how subjective reported tinnitus characteristics, such as loudness, laterality, and type and measures of burden, such as tinnitus distress, depression, and quality of life, changes over time; (3) how often tinnitus-specific treatments were undertaken and the prevalence of comorbidities, (4) if the number of treatments and comorbidities were associated to changes in tinnitus distress over time. Data from 388 patients with chronic tinnitus who visited a tertiary tinnitus clinic between 2012 and 2017 were interrogated via a mail survey in 2018. Tinnitus characteristics were measured with the Tinnitus Sample Case History Questionnaire and numeric rating scales; tinnitus distress with Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ), depression with the Major Depression Inventory and Quality of life with the World Health Organisation Quality of Life BREF at both time points and the clinical global impression scale. Comorbidities experienced and undertaken treatments were assessed with an in-house survey. Three participants (0.8% of the sample) reported tinnitus remission between both assessments. A decrease in the THI and TQ, and numeric ratings for tinnitus severity, annoyance, unpleasantness, and discomfort was observed, but no differences in tinnitus characteristics, depression, quality of life or overall health status. 64% presented at least one comorbidity, and 88% sought at least on tinnitus-specific treatment. Common comorbidities were psychological and sleeping problems, and the most common interventions were going to the dentist, taking medications, and wearing hearing aids. Our results suggest that full remission of tinnitus is a rare condition, that tinnitus distress on average decreases over time, and that tinnitus characteristics, quality of life, and depression tend to remain unaltered. The high number of interventions and comorbidities displayed minimal association to the changes in tinnitus distress, highlighting the substantial and durable burden of tinnitus sufferers.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83068-5 |
| spellingShingle | Jorge P. Simões Patrick K. A. Neff Berthold Langguth Winfried Schlee Martin Schecklmann The progression of chronic tinnitus over the years Scientific Reports |
| title | The progression of chronic tinnitus over the years |
| title_full | The progression of chronic tinnitus over the years |
| title_fullStr | The progression of chronic tinnitus over the years |
| title_full_unstemmed | The progression of chronic tinnitus over the years |
| title_short | The progression of chronic tinnitus over the years |
| title_sort | progression of chronic tinnitus over the years |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83068-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jorgepsimoes theprogressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT patrickkaneff theprogressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT bertholdlangguth theprogressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT winfriedschlee theprogressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT martinschecklmann theprogressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT jorgepsimoes progressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT patrickkaneff progressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT bertholdlangguth progressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT winfriedschlee progressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears AT martinschecklmann progressionofchronictinnitusovertheyears |