Losing silence, gaining acceptance: a qualitative exploration of the role of thoughts in adult patients with subjective tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE

Tinnitus is one of the most common somatic symptoms to affect humanity. Prevalence rates in adult populations range from 8.2 to 20.1%. Our aim was to understand the beliefs and interpretations of tinnitus and the experience of living with it.

DESIGN

An in depth grounded theory interview study. Grounded theory is an inductive approach to developing theory.

SAMPLE: Thirteen contrasting people with tinnitus who had sought help from clinical services in England.

RESULTS

We identified that the thinking patterns that people held around their tinnitus impacted how they experienced it. A core category emerged from the data, "sense making". Around "sense making" eight other themes operated. Results are discussed in relation to the literature on tinnitus acceptance and beliefs.

CONCLUSIONS

The aim of interventions is to foster understanding and enhance perceptions of control, which may minimise the emotional impact of tinnitus and reduce the perceived severity of consequences.