[Chronic tinnitus: a grading management mode study].
OBJECTIVE
To probe into grading management mode for chronic tinnitus victims, so as to improve the cost-effectiveness rate of tinnitus treatment.


METHODS
According to the severity of patient's own feeling and the therapy demand, the authors managed 587 of chronic tinnitus victims using a progressive methods: Level 1 was primary evaluation, counseling and treatment for tinnitus victims, then determined if the victim require further clinical intervention. Level 2 was educational counseling about the knowledge of tinnitus. Level 3 was further evaluation for hearing function and the severity of tinnitus. Than the authors made and put in practice an individual integrative treatment project for every victim according to the assessment results.


RESULTS
75% (441/587) of the chronic tinnitus victims needed only educational counseling which can free them from the mystification and dread of tinnitus, the counseling helped them get habituation of tinnitus; the rest 25% (146/587) needed long-term integrative clinical treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective grading management can hold the tinnitus severity level and the treatment desirability from the victims rapidly and exactly, then provided them multiple modalities treatment from counseling to long-term integrative therapy. The grading management mode improved the cost-effectiveness rate of tinnitus treatment.
Zeng
Xiang-Li
XL
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China. zengxl_2002@yahoo.com.cn
Gong
Shu-Sheng
SS
Li
Peng
P
Li
Yuan
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*