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

Abstract

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.