Help-seeking among adults with tinnitus : examination of a tinnitus cohort from the Busselton healthy ageing study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the help-seeking behaviour of adults with tinnitus and the factors associated with help-seeking. A tinnitus cohort (n = 131) from the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study (BHAS) completed surveys assessing demographic and clinical factors, tinnitus characteristics and distress, health status, and help-seeking behaviour. The study found that of the 131 participants that took part 43.5% sought help for tinnitus. Binomial logistic regression was used to examine the association of health status (Glasgow Health Status Inventory – all purpose (GHSI) total score) and tinnitus distress (Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ) total score) with self-reported hearing loss and self-reported anxiety. The results of the binomial logistic regression found that help-seeking was significantly associated with higher tinnitus distress (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.01, 1.07], p = 0.01) and lower self-reported anxiety levels (OR 0.43, 95% CI [0.18, 1.00], p = 0.05). However, no significant association was found between help-seeking and self-reported hearing loss. Whilst increased tinnitus distress can be expected to be associated with help-seeking, lower anxiety may encourage help-seeking or may be barrier to seeking help. Further work is needed to better understand the relationship with tinnitus, anxiety and help-seeking.