Differences in characteristics between people with tinnitus that seek help and that do not.
Open accessAbstract
Knowledge on characteristics of people that seek help for tinnitus is scarce. The primary objective of this study was to describe differences in characteristics between people with tinnitus that seek help compared to those who do not seek help. Next, we described differences in characteristics between those with and without tinnitus. In this cross-sectional study, we sent a questionnaire on characteristics in different domains; demographic, tinnitus-specific, general- and psychological health, auditory and noise- and substance behaviour. We assessed if participants had sought help or planned to seek help for tinnitus. Tinnitus distress was defined with the Tinnitus Functional Index. Differences between groups (help seeking: yes/no, tinnitus: yes/no) were described. 932 people took part in our survey. Two hundred and sixteen participants were defined as having tinnitus (23.2%). Seventy-three of those sought or planned to seek help. A constant tinnitus pattern, a varying tinnitus loudness, and hearing loss, were described more frequently in help seekers. Help seekers reported higher TFI scores. Differences between help seekers and people not seeking help were mainly identified in tinnitus- and audiological characteristics. These outcomes might function as a foundation to explore the heterogeneity in tinnitus patients.
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Help-seeking is most positively correlated with self-perceived hearing limitation.
“Help-seeking is found to be most positively correlated with self-perceived hearing limitation (Rademaker et al., 2021; Vestergaard Knudsen et al., 2010) and tinnitus impact on quality of life (Rademaker et al., 2021).”
From Combining the unequal variance signal detection model with the health belief model to optimize shared decision making in tinnitus patients: part 2—patient profiling (2025) · cites this paper as Rademaker et al., 2021
In the Results (Comparison of help seekers versus non-help seekers; page unavailable), self-reported hearing problems were more frequent among help seekers (76.7%) than non-help seekers (55.6%). This supports a positive association, but the paper does not identify perceived hearing limitation as the strongest correlate of help-seeking; the same section reports substantial associations with perceived tinnitus severity. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThere were no differences between help-seekers and non-help seekers regarding side of tinnitus perception.
“They found no differences between help-seekers and non-help seekers regarding side of tinnitus perception.”
From Combining the unequal variance signal detection model with the health belief model to optimize shared decision making in tinnitus patients: part 2—patient profiling (2025) · cites this paper as Rademaker et al., 2021
Table 3 in Results (‘Tinnitus and its characteristics’; page not available) reports the perceived location of tinnitus separately for help-seekers and non-help-seekers. It does not report a statistical comparison or state that there was no difference between the groups; the percentages are not identical. Thus the paper supports that side of perception was examined, but not the claimed finding of no difference. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHelp-seeking is most positively correlated with tinnitus impact on quality of life.
“Help-seeking is found to be most positively correlated with self-perceived hearing limitation (Rademaker et al., 2021; Vestergaard Knudsen et al., 2010) and tinnitus impact on quality of life (Rademaker et al., 2021).”
From Combining the unequal variance signal detection model with the health belief model to optimize shared decision making in tinnitus patients: part 2—patient profiling (2025) · cites this paper as Rademaker et al., 2021
The Results (Comparison of help seekers versus non-help seekers; page not provided) report that people with higher Tinnitus Functional Index scores were more likely to seek help. The Methods (Outcome assessment; page not provided) say the index measures tinnitus’s impact on daily life, including quality of life. The paper does not establish that quality-of-life impact is the factor *most* positively associated with help-seeking. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHelp-seeking tinnitus patients experienced more severe and multifaceted tinnitus symptoms compared to non-help seekers.
“Rademaker et al. (2021) found that help-seeking tinnitus patients exhibited higher tinnitus impact scores and experienced more severe and multifaceted tinnitus symptoms compared to non-help seekers.”
From Combining the unequal variance signal detection model with the health belief model to optimize shared decision making in tinnitus patients: part 2—patient profiling (2025) · cites this paper as Rademaker et al., 2021
Help-seeking tinnitus patients exhibited higher tinnitus impact scores compared to non-help seekers.
“Rademaker et al. (2021) found that help-seeking tinnitus patients exhibited higher tinnitus impact scores and experienced more severe and multifaceted tinnitus symptoms compared to non-help seekers.”
From Combining the unequal variance signal detection model with the health belief model to optimize shared decision making in tinnitus patients: part 2—patient profiling (2025) · cites this paper as Rademaker et al., 2021
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- Authors
- Rademaker, M. M., Stegeman, I., Brabers, A. E. M., de Jong, J. D., Stokroos, R. J., & Smit, A. L.
- Affiliations
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Rademaker, M. M.
- Venue
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2021-11-25
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 22949-22949
- ISSN
- 2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8616930
- OpenAlex
- W3215169737
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4
- FWCI
- 1.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › Noise Effects and Management
- Keywords
- tinnitus, help-seeking, help-seeking intentions, tinnitus distress, Tinnitus Functional Index, tinnitus loudness, hearing loss, mental health, substance use, patient heterogeneity
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Auditory Perception, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Hearing, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Tinnitus, Cost of Illness
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