Psychosocial consequences of the loudness of tinnitus

Abstract

Introduction: Tinnitus distress is associated with the perceived loudness of the tinnitus. Objectives: To evaluate the psychosocial problems in tinnitus patients and to explore any relation with the tinnitus loudness. Design: From all patients who were treated in our clinic from January 2017 to September 2019 for their tinnitus, patients chart and a questionnaire with the psychosocial variables were studied retrospectively. Results: Almost half of the tinnitus patients could not withstand their tinnitus and they were faced with disturbed concentration and feeling depressed. Psychosocial problems were related to the maximal loudness of the tinnitus. If the perceived maximal loudness of the tinnitus was above 73 millimetre on the visual analogue scale the prevalence of psychosocial problems raised. If it was above 83 millimetre the majority of these patients had psychosocial problems. Conclusion: Psychosocial problems were related to the maximal loudness of the tinnitus. We recommend patients suffering from severe tinnitus distress that therapy should be aimed at a reduction of the maximal loudness of tinnitus to less than 73 mm on the visual analogue scale.