Proportion and characteristics of patients who were offered, enrolled in and completed audiologist-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus and hyperacusis rehabilitation in a specialist UK clinic

Abstract

Objective: The aim was to determine the proportion and characteristics of patients who were offered, enrolled in and completed an audiologist-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for tinnitus and/or hyperacusis in a specialist Audiology Department in the National Health Service, UK. Design: This was a retrospective study. Study sample: Data were gathered for 266 consecutive patients with an average age of 56 y (standard deviation =15 y). Results: Following an initial assessment session, 68% of patients were judged to have problems sufficient for them to be offered audiologist-delivered CBT. The remaining 32% were discharged. Of those enrolled for CBT, 31% were discharged after the first CBT session, because they were judged to have insufficient tinnitus and/or hyperacusis distress. Of those offered continuing CBT, 45% declined to continue. Patients who continued were younger, had worse insomnia and had better hearing in their better ear than patients who declined. Of those who continued, 68% completed the six sessions of CBT. Conclusion: Although CBT is resource intensive, only 17% of the total patient sample received the full course of six sessions of CBT. Patients who accepted continuing CBT were younger, had worse insomnia and had better hearing than those who declined.

Key Words:

• Tinnitus
• hyperacusis
• audiology
• cognitive behavioural therapy

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the members of the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Therapy Specialist Clinic at the Audiology Department, the Royal Surrey County Hospital for their help in data collection.

Declaration of interest: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.