One in 6 Americans suffer from tinnitus and in Australia the figure is even higher. According to the Australian Tinnitus Association, nearly one in 5 Australians have experienced the ringing, buzzing or whistling sensation in their ears otherwise known as tinnitus.
As many clinicians know the impact tinnitus has varies greatly from person to person but the condition often severely affects quality of life and is difficult to treat. Below are some links to resources to help care for this patient population.
Resources for Patients
Patients with tinnitus differ but they all looking for relief. Many patients will have done some research by the time they reach your clinic and some may be very well informed. Providing additional resources may help these patients respond more positively to the treatment plans you propose. The newly released Relax Tinnitus Relief App is a free resource and self-management tool for patients, also intended for incorporation into a hearing professional’s sound therapy protocol for those diagnosed with tinnitus.
Personalised Treatment Plans
Information obtained through case history, questionnaire, and audiometric evaluation provide a detailed picture of the impact tinnitus is having on quality of life. Using this clinicians can formulate a personalised treatment plan. For guides on treatment plans depending on your patient's results see the Multiflex Tinnitus Technology Handbook (also available on StarkeyPro) which also gives links to other well-established tinnitus treatment approaches/therapy programs such as:
Tinnitus Organizations or Related Groups
- Australian Tinnitus Association
- American Tinnitus Association
- Tinnitus Research Initiative
- The Hyperacusis Network
Recommended Books, Articles, and Websites for the Professional
Text Books:
- Tinnitus: Theory and Management. Snow, J.B. (2004) Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker.
- The Psychological Management of Chronic Tinnitus: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach Henry, J.L. & Wilson, P.H. (2001). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
- Tinnitus Treatment: Clinical Protocols. Tyler, R.S. (2006). New York, NY: Thieme Medical Publishers Inc.
Articles:
- Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus. Tunkel, D.E., Bauer, C.A., Sun, G.H., Rosenfeld, R.M., Chandrasekhar, S.S., Cunningham, E.R.,...Whamond, E.J. (2014). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 151(2S), S1-S140
- The Role of the Audiologic Evaluation in Progressive Tinnitus Management. Henry, J.A., Zaugg, T.L., Myers, P.J., Kendall, C.J., Schechter, M.A. (2008). Trends in Amplification, 12 (3), 170-87.
- A Triage Guide for Tinnitus. Henry, J.A., Zaugg, T.L., Myers, P.J., Kendall, C.J., Michaelides, E.M. (2010). J Fam Practice, 59(7), 389-393.
Websites:
- National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR)
- Dr. Richard Tyler at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Mindfulness Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction Online course
If you have any other useful resources to add to the list we would love to hear from you.