The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

We’ve posted on a similar tinnitus study in the past linking neuroticism as a personality trait to tinnitus. Now, a new press article summarizes some of the findings in a more accessible framework:

People with ‘neurotic’ tendencies are more likely to be troubled by their tinnitus, a new study involving researchers at The University of Nottingham, has found.
The research, led by academics at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit, found that those who were lonely, worried or anxious, miserable or experiencing mood swings were more likely to report their tinnitus as being bothersome.
The results suggest that those people with a more sensitive nature may be less able to cope with the symptoms of their hearing condition.
Dr Abby McCormack, who led the study, said: “It is likely that personality factors play an important role in the perception and management of tinnitus, possibly by influencing the tendency to be aware of it. Therefore treatment should be tailored for individual personality types to help people cope with their condition.”