Forfattere
Kaia Ringstad Andreassen, Andreas Falck,Tove Bring Solum & Guri Engernes Nielsen
Sammendrag
Objective
Identify factors predicting work capacity among patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Design and study sample
This study employed a cross-sectional design, collecting data from four Norwegian audiology clinics (N = 80) and two Norwegian rehabilitation centres (N = 47). The patients in this study were invited to complete a web-based questionnaire.
Results
This study found significant positive correlations between levels of tinnitus, hyperacusis, and mental distress (rs in the range .51 − .74). Logistic regression models showed that reduced work capacity was predicted by both tinnitus (OR = 1.07) and hyperacusis (OR = 1.13), and that hyperacusis predicted work absence (OR = 1.08).
Conclusion
The findings demonstrate a moderate association between tinnitus and hyperacusis (r = .51), with both conditions affecting the work capacity of more than 50% of participants in the study. Moreover, the results indicate that the severity of tinnitus and hyperacusis is directly related to impaired work capacity and higher rates of work absence.
Keywords: Tinnitus, hyperacusis, work capacity, work absence, anxiety, depression