The positive side of living with tinnitus: a cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Figure 1. The number of positive responses per participant compared to those reported by Kentala et al. (2008) and Beukes et al. (2018b).

Table 1. Statistical analysis of demographic and clinical variables between those who reported at least one positive experience and those that did not.

	Total sample (n = 439)	≥1 reported positive experiences (n = 164)	No positive experiences (n = 275)	Comparison between groups
Category	N(%)/Mean (SD)	N(%)/Mean (SD)	N(%)/Mean (SD)	Chi square test or t-test value, p-value
Age (in years)	55.3 (13.4)	51.8 (14.7)	56 (12.6)	t = 3.2, p = .001^a
Tinnitus duration (in years)	12.1 (13)	12 (12.5)	12.3 (13.6)	t = .5, p = .6
Gender				χ^2 = 0.4, p = .03
Male	211 (48.1)	74 (45.1)	137 (49.8)
Female	228 (51.9)	90 (54.9)	138 (50.2)
Education				χ^2 = 6.1, p = .1
Less than high	5 (1.1)	3 (1.8)	2 (0.7)
High school	46 (10.5)	15 (3.1)	31 (11.3)
Some college	129 (29.4)	39 (23.8)	90 (32.7)
University	259 (59)	107 (64.2)	152 (55.3)
Work				χ^2 = 6.5, p = .09
Entry level	15 (3.4)	7 (4.3)	8 (2.9)
Skilled	263 (59.9)	105 (64)	158 (57.5)
Retried	126 (28.7)	36 (22)	90 (32.7)
Not working	35 (8)	16 (9.8)	19 (6.9)
Tinnitus distress (TFI)	51.6 (21.5)	52.2 (20.5)	52.7 (22.4)	t = 0.24, p = .8
Depression (PHQ-9)	7.19 (5.9)	7.4 (5.9)	7.4 (5.9)	t = 0.2, p = .9
Anxiety (GAD-7)	7.05 (5.7)	7.4 (5.5)	7.2 (5.8)	t = −0.4, p = .7
Insomnia (ISI)	11 (6.8)	11.1 (6.3)	11.4 (6.9)	t = 0.4, p = .7
Hearing disability (THS)	6.6 (4.7)	5.8 (4.6)	6.8 (4.8)	t = 2.4, p = .03^a
Tinnitus cognitions questionnaire total score (TCQ)	41 (17.1)	41.4 (17.5)	42.4 (17.5)	t = 0.57, p = .5
Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L VAS)	74.5 (15.3)	74.3 (14.4)	74.1 (16.7)	t = −0.2, p = .9

^aSignificant difference between those who report and do not report positive experiences.

Table 2. Positive responses to the open-ended questions.

Category	Sub-Category	Number of meaning units (n = 290)	Example of meaning unit
Outlook	Attitude	42	“Not worrying about small problems in life.”
	Emotional self-awareness	3	“Pulling myself out of that dark place [suicidality].”
	Appreciation	18	“I am grateful for my life.”
	Perspective	25	“Thankful that it isn’t louder.”
	Empathy	31	“I now have more compassion for people who have tinnitus.”
	Resilience	20	“I can beat it (translated).”
		Total 139 (47.9%)
Personal Development	Self-care	22	“I take care of my health and food more.”
	Self-awareness of capabilities	7	“I am more aware of what I can handle.”
	Self-control	7	“The ability to cue my body and mind to relax on call is better.”
	Self-improvement	4	“I applied to graduate school […] to study tinnitus.”
	Motivation	2	“I am working on my weight”
		Total 42 (14.5%)
Coping	Adaptation	9	“I treat the tinnitus as a white noise when sleeping.”
	Peaceful behaviour	8	“It brought me closer to meditation.”
	Spirituality	12	“I view these physical trials as a positive thing from my lord and savior.”
		Total 29 (10.0%)
Support	Intimate relationships	14	“It has made me realize how much friends and family care.”
	Helping others	5	“The chance to help others by helping to bring a solution about.”
		Total 19 (6.6%)
Treatment-related	Added benefit of treatment	19	“I listen to more music.”
	New relationships	3	“I have met some really nice people in the tinnitus support group I'm in.”
	Safe behaviour	20	“I am protecting my hearing by wearing ear plugs.”
		Total 42 (14.5%)
Disease-specific	Added benefit from tinnitus	7	“I think it may actually help lull me to sleep.”
	Direct benefit from tinnitus	12	“I became more […] educated about my condition.”
		Total 19 (6.6%)

Percentages are rounded.

Kentala, E., C. Wilson, I. Pyykkö, K. Varpa, and D. Stephens. 2008. “Positive experiences associated with tinnitus and balance problems.” Audiological Medicine 6:55–61. doi:10.1080/16513860801959639

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Beukes, E. W., V. Manchaiah, T. E. Valien, D. M. Baguley, P. M. Allen, et al. 2018b. “Positive experiences related to living with tinnitus: A cross-sectional survey.” Clinical Otolaryngology 43:489–495. doi:10.1111/coa.13002

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