Telephone Tinnitus Education for Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Tinnitus Handicap Inventory [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is strongly associated with tinnitus. Tinnitus management for Veterans and military members with TBI has become a critical concern. Our research has focused on developing effective, evidence-based methods of tinnitus management for Veterans. These efforts led to the development of Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM). We are completing a pilot study to adapt PTM to meet the unique tinnitus management needs of Veterans and military members with TBI using a novel home-based telehealth program called Telephone Tinnitus Education (TTE). Preliminary data analyses indicate that TTE is effective. The present study will modify the TTE program in accordance with pilot study findings and evaluate the modified TTE using a randomized clinical trial design.

The 4-year study will be based at the VA National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR). TTE will be implemented and evaluated in a randomized clinical trial. Qualified candidates will be randomized to receive either immediate-TTE or Wait-List Control (WLC). All subjects will complete questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-baseline. The WLC group will receive TTE after completing the 6-month questionnaires. The primary outcome measure will be the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI).

TTE intervention involves a series of seven telephone appointments, conducted at approximately 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks, and 3 and 6 months after enrollment is finalized. Telephone education is provided by the Study Psychologist at weeks 1, 3, and 5, and by the Study Audiologist at weeks 2 and 4, and months 3 and 6.

TTE has the potential of providing needed tinnitus services to Veterans and active military personnel across the country for a relatively small cost and with minimal impact on individual VA hospitals.