The experiences of patients with tinnitus: a qualitative study

Abstract

Purpose: Tinnitus, which is often described as the conscious awareness of a sound without an external auditory stimulus, is one of the most common symptoms in the general population. This study aimed to explore the experiences of individuals living with tinnitus.Methods: In this qualitative exploratory study, data were collected from November 2017 to January 2018 through in-depth individual interviews with 11 tinnitus patients. Verbatim transcripts and field notes were analyzed using content analysis.Results: The extracted content was classified into three core categories of tinnitus experiences: “suffering from constant sound,” “being imprisoned surrounded by persistent noise,” and “efforts to overcome.”Conclusion: This study shows that tinnitus had a severe negative impact on patients’ lives. The finding will help healthcare providers understand their patients more deeply.