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Background: Though clinical guidelines for assessment and treatment of chronic subjective tinnitus do exist, a comprehensive review of those guidelines has not been performed. The objective of this review was to identify current clinical guidelines, and compare their recommendations for the assessment and treatment of subjective tinnitus in adults. Method: We systematically searched a range of sources for clinical guidelines (as defined by the Institute of Medicine, United States) for the assessment and/or treatment of subjective tinnitus in adults. No restrictions on language or year of publication were applied to guidelines. Results: Clinical guidelines from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United States were included in the review. There was a high level of consistency across the guidelines with regard to recommendations for audiometric assessment, physical examination, use of a validated questionnaire(s) to assess tinnitus related distress, and referral to a psychologist when required. Cognitive behavioral treatment for tinnitus related distress, use of hearing aids in instances of hearing loss and recommendations against the use of medicines were consistent across the included guidelines. Differences between the guidelines centered on the use of imaging in assessment procedures and sound therapy as a form of treatment for tinnitus distress respectively. Conclusion: Given the level of commonality across tinnitus guidelines from different countries the development of a European guideline for the assessment and treatment of subjective tinnitus in adults seems feasible. This guideline would have the potential to benefit the large number of clinicians in countries where clinical guidelines do not yet exist, and would support standardization of treatment for patients across Europe.
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OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether children and adolescents with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis are seen in Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) clinics and to report the clinical data, treatment and referral patterns of these children. To describe the population of children and adolescents with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis found in Educational- Psychological Advisory services (EPAs) and Centres for special Education for Adults (CEAs) and to identify the referral patterns and interventions used for the children in each of these settings. METHODS: A prospective study within 15 ENT clinics was conducted from June 2014 to February 2015. All children with a primary complaint of tinnitus and/or hyperacusis was reported. No changes in daily practice regarding diagnostics, treatment or referral were made. A retrospective case review was undertaken during a five-year period from 01/01/2009 to 31/12/2013 in each Danish municipality and region. RESULTS: In the prospective ENT study, 12 children were identified and in the retrospective CEA/EPA study 69 children were identified. The 12 children seen by ENT (8 females and 4 male) had an age range from 5.7 to 14 years. The majority of the 69 children seen by CEA/EPA (n = 50, 72.5%) had been diagnosed with tinnitus as a primary complaint. Hyperacusis was the primary complaint in 9 cases (12.8%), and both tinnitus and hyperacusis were reported in 11 cases (15.7%). The findings of this study indicate that a majority of children with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis are seen in settings designed for adult audiological rehabilitation. Counselling, including explanations and discussion of coping strategies was the most commonly reported intervention. Intervention methods corresponding with guidelines for tinnitus management in adults were used in 11 cases (15.9%). CONCLUSION: Overall only a small number of children with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis were identified in this systems, suggesting that either the children are seen at general practitioner level or not being referred at all. It may also be the case that the incidence of troublesome tinnitus in childhood is lower than the epidemiological data proposes. Referral pathways indicate a general uncertainty about which services provide acquire sufficient intervention. This study indicates that clinicians working at tinnitus services for adults (CEAs) collectively have the skills to help older children, and that a service development focus should be on the younger children as this point.