lnu.sePublications
Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Changes in Tinnitus Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lamar Univ, USA;Anglia Ruskin Univ, UK.
Nottingham Biomed Res Ctr, UK;Univ Nottingham, UK;Univ Nottingham Hosp, UK.
Antwerp Univ Hosp, Belgium;Univ Antwerp, Belgium.
Maastricht Univ, Netherlands;Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
Show others and affiliations
2020 (English)In: Frontiers in Public Health, E-ISSN 2296-2565, Vol. 8, p. 1-13, article id 592878Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted delivery of healthcare, economic activity, and affected social interactions. Identifying and supporting those most affected by the pandemic is required. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the pandemic on individuals with tinnitus and to identify mediating factors. Methods: This is a mixed-methods exploratory cross-sectional study, using data collected via an online survey from 3,103 individuals with tinnitus from 48 countries. The greatest representation was from North America (49%) and Europe (47%) and other countries were only marginally represented. Results: Although the study was aimed at those with pre-existing tinnitus, 7 individuals reported having COVID-19 initiated tinnitus. Having COVID-19 symptoms exacerbated tinnitus in 40% of respondents, made no change in 54%, and improved tinnitus in 6%. Other mediating factors such as the social and emotional consequences of the pandemic made pre-existing tinnitus more bothersome for 32% of the respondents, particularly for females and younger adults, better for 1%, and caused no change to tinnitus for 67%. Pre-existing tinnitus was significantly exacerbated for those self-isolating, experiencing loneliness, sleeping poorly, and with reduced levels of exercise. Increased depression, anxiety, irritability, and financial worries further significantly contributed to tinnitus being more bothersome during the pandemic period. Conclusions: These findings have implications for tinnitus management, because they highlight the diverse response both internal and external factors have on tinnitus levels. Clinical services should be mindful that tinnitus may be caused by contracting COVID-19 and pre-existing tinnitus may be exacerbated, although in the majority of respondents there was no change. Additional support should be offered where tinnitus severity has increased due to the health, social, and/or emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tinnitus may be more bothersome for those experiencing loneliness, having fewer social interactions, and who are more anxious or worried.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Frontiers Media S.A., 2020. Vol. 8, p. 1-13, article id 592878
Keywords [en]
COVID-19, public health, tinnitus, coronavirus, understanding, mental health–, state of emotional and social well-being, loneliness, social isolation
National Category
Psychology
Research subject
Social Sciences, Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-99909DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.592878ISI: 000590537600001PubMedID: 33251179Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85096397576OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-99909DiVA, id: diva2:1517237
Available from: 2021-01-13 Created: 2021-01-13 Last updated: 2024-09-04Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textPubMedScopus

Authority records

Kaldo, Viktor

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Kaldo, Viktor
By organisation
Department of Psychology
In the same journal
Frontiers in Public Health
Psychology

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn
Total: 59 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf