October17, 2010

Nearly three-in-four say that tinnitus has a negative effect on their daily life 

Two-in-three tinnitus suffers also have a hearing loss, survey shows.

More than 70% of those who suffer from tinnitus say that it has a negative effect on their daily life. Two-in-three of those with tinnitus say that as well as their tinnitus, they also suffer from hearing loss. These are the findings of an online survey carried out by Hear-it.

More than 70% of the participants in the Hear-it study said, that their tinnitus has a negative effect on their daily life and as many as 33% said, that their tinnitus greatly affects their daily life. More than 50% also said that their tinnitus affects their nightly sleep.

64% of those with tinnitus said, that they also suffer from hearing loss. 11% of the participants in the study do not know if they have a hearing loss, while almost 22% say that they do not have a hearing loss.

Only around 50% of those who say that they have a hearing loss use hearing aids, while the other half do not. Half of those who use hearing aids believe that it also helps with their tinnitus.
“Many scientific surveys have shown that hearing aids make a big difference in daily life if you have a hearing loss. Therefore I can only encourage everyone with a noticeable hearing loss to use a hearing aid to improve their quality of life. This is also relevant if you have both hearing loss and tinnitus. Many studies have shown that for many hearing aids can also help with tinnitus, if you have a hearing loss. This is confirmed by our online survey”, said secretary general Kim Ruberg, Hear-it AISBL.

Almost one-in-three participants in the study have had tinnitus for more than 10 years, while a little fewer than 20% have had tinnitus for less than two years.

330 tinnitus suffers from around the world took part in the survey during August and September 2011 by responding to a questionnaire posted on www.hear-it.org.

Facts about Hear-it AISBL

Hear-it AISBL is an international non-profit and non-commercial organisation. The objective of Hear-it AISBL is to collect, process and circulate relevant information pertaining to hearing impairment and their human and socio-economic consequences. Hear-it AISBL is the publisher of ww.hear-it.org, the world’s leading website on hearing loss.

Further information

For further information feel free to contact Kim Ruberg, Secretary General, Hear-it AISBL, tel.: +45 40 300 500, e-mail: hear-it@hear-it.org