SYNERGY OF MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO SUPPORTING PATIENTS WITH TINNITUS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31392/UDU-nc.series19.2026.50.15Keywords:
etiology, tinnitus, acoustic trauma, psychological distress, sound therapy, hearing aidsAbstract
The article substantiates the need for integrated medical and psychological support for patients with chronic tinnitus. The aim is to systematize current approaches to diagnosis, hearing rehabilitation, and psychological care and to determine how their combination can reduce tinnitus-related distress and improve quality of life. The study is based on theoretical analysis, comparison, and synthesis of medical and psychological literature. The practical component is illustrated by an assessment of tinnitus-related psychological distress using the Mini-TQ12 in a patient with chronic subjective tinnitus. The analysis shows that the burden of tinnitus is determined not only by the acoustic characteristics of the symptom or accompanying hearing loss, but also by emotional and cognitive reactions, sleep disturbances, difficulties with concentration, somatic concerns, and changes in social functioning. The medical component of support includes history taking, audiological assessment, identification and treatment of the underlying pathology, hearing rehabilitation, hearing aids when indicated, sound therapy, counselling, and follow-up. The psychological component focuses on reducing maladaptive attention to tinnitus and distress through cognitive-behavor strategies, acceptance, graded exposure, mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, and value-oriented action. The clinical illustration demonstrates that Mini-TQ12 can be used as a brief screening instrument to quantify psychological distress and to identify domains that require targeted intervention. The findings support a multidisciplinary model in which medical and psychological interventions reinforce each other: medical measures address auditory and somatic factors, while psychological interventions improve coping, adaptation, and the patient’s ability to continue meaningful activity despite persistent tinnitus. Such integration may increase treatment effectiveness and provide a more individualized basis for monitoring changes in the patient’s condition.
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References
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