Examining the consequences of tinnitus using the multidimensional perspective

Abstract

Background

Tinnitus is one of the most frequent chronic conditions in adults with wide range of consequences.

Aims/Objectives

The aim of the current study was to determine the problems and life effects reported by individuals with tinnitus using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.

Material and Methods

The study used a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 344 individuals with tinnitus completed a series of questionnaires. The responses to open-ended questions were linked to ICF categories.

Results

Activity limitations and participation restrictions were most dominant consequence of tinnitus followed by effect on the body function with limited emphasis on the contextual factors. Frequently reported responses to body function involved emotional functions (b152), attention function (b140), and sleep functions (b134). Commonly reported responses to activity limitations and participation restrictions were recreation and leisure (d920), conversation (d350), communicating with—receiving—spoken messages (d310), listening (d115), and remunerative employment (d850). Sound intensity (e2500) and sound quality (e2501) were the frequently reported responses to environmental factors. Coping styles, past and present experiences, and lifestyle were the most frequently occurring personal factors.

Conclusions and significance

The study highlighted some key influencing factors of tinnitus in different ICF domains which can be helpful in rehabilitation planning.

Chinese Abstract

背景：耳鸣是成年人最常见的慢性病之一, 其后果多种多样。

目的：本研究的目的是, 使用功能、残疾和健康国际分类(ICF)框架, 明确耳鸣患者报告的问题和对生活的影响。

材料和方法：本研究采用横断面调查设计。共有 344 位耳鸣患者完成了一系列调查问卷。将对开放式问题的回应与ICF 类别联系起来。

结果：活动受限和参与受限是耳鸣最主要的后果, 其次是对身体功能的影响, 因对环境因素的重视有限。常见的关于身体功能的回应包括情绪功能 (b152)、注意力功能 (b140)、和睡眠功能 (b134)。关于活动限制和参与限制的回应通常涉及娱乐和休闲 (d920)、交谈 (d350)、给出-接收-口语信息 (d310)、聆听 (d115) 和有报酬的工作 (d850)。声音强度(e2500) 和声音质量 (e2501) 是常见的对环境因素的回应。应对方式、过去和现在的经历以及生活方式是最常发生的个人因素。

结论与意义：本研究强调了耳鸣对不同ICF类别的一些关键影响因素, 这有助于康复规划。

Keywords:

• Tinnitus
• ICF
• biopsychosocial perspective
• body function
• activity limitations
• participation restrictions
• open-ended questions

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board at Lamar University (IRB-FY17-209 and IRB-FY20-200).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Figshare at http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13681924

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD) of the National Institute of Health (NIH) under the award number R21DC017214. Funding agency did not have any role in the design or execution of the study.