title: Tinnitus: patients do not have to 'just live with it'.
abstract: Tinnitus is distressing and affects the quality of life for many patients. Because primary care physicians may be the entry point for patients seeking help for tinnitus, we urge them to acknowledge this symptom and its potential negative impact on the patient's health and quality of life. Physicians should actively listen to the patient and provide hope and encouragement, but also provide realistic expectations about the course of treatment. The patient must also understand that there may be no singular "cure" for tinnitus and that management may involve multidisciplinary assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Section of Audiology, Head and Neck Institute, A71, Cleveland Clinic, and Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. newmanc@ccf.org
authors.forename: Craig W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sandridge
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bea
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.forename: Karyn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaltenbach
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000465:Algorithms; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013016:Sound; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy