The International Tinnitus Journal

Evaluating Tinnitus Distress from the Perspective of Significant Others Using a Novel Questionnaire

Author(s): Tricia L. Scaglione*, Paul B. Davis,Dario Ebode, Adrien A. Eshraghi

Background: It is common for significant others to serve as a support unit for patients with chronic conditions. Tinnitus sufferers may benefit from incorporating their significant other in the management process. While numerous self-report measures are available for tinnitus sufferers, no subjective questionnaires currently exist to assess the significant other’s perspective of the sufferer’s tinnitus distress. Purpose: The objective was to develop a preliminary questionnaire to assess the severity of sufferers’ tinnitus distress from their significant other's perspective to involve the significant other in the counselling and rehabilitation process. Research design: A prospective cross-sectional pilot study. Forty-four subjects with a mean age of 57.1 ± 7.6 years old consented to participate in the study, including 22 patients and their respective significant other. Study sample: Forty-four subjects with a mean age of 57.1 ± 7.6 years old, including 22 patients and their respective significant other, were prospectively studied. Data collection and analysis: Tinnitus distress reported by the sufferer was assessed using the tinnitus reaction questionnaire. Perceptions of the sufferer’s tinnitus distress were assessed in the significant other using a novel subjective tool, the significant others tinnitus questionnaire. Preliminary responses from both study groups were analysed for differences in perception of tinnitus distress. Results: No significant difference was observed in tinnitus distress for significant others versus tinnitus sufferers for work, sleep, concentration, relaxation or ability to work, indicating the impact of tinnitus was perceived similarly in the sufferers and their respective significant others. One difference observed was the significant others rated tinnitus to be more bothersome in social situations than the tinnitus sufferer (p<0.01). Conclusion: Significant others have an appropriate understanding of the adverse effects of tinnitus on the sufferer. Clinicians providing tinnitus care should consider incorporating questionnaires such as the significant others tinnitus questionnaire as counselling tools when involving a significant other in the tinnitus sufferer’s management process.

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