[Intermittent tinnitus-an empirical description. German version]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Audiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Tinnitus is commonly classified as acute or chronic, yet intermittent tinnitus (IT) is the most prevalent form.
• Epidemiologic studies indicate IT does not fit neatly into existing acute or chronic categories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To empirically characterize intermittent tinnitus (IT).
• To understand the prevalence, triggers, and associated symptoms of IT.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory cross-sectional interview study was conducted with 320 tinnitus subjects.
• Subjects were categorized into continuous (CT), intermittent (IT), or single-episode tinnitus (SET) based on 12-month experience.
• Data collected included sociodemographics, tinnitus characteristics, complaints, triggers, and help-seeking behavior.

Main Results:

• Intermittent tinnitus (IT) was reported by 62% of subjects, followed by single-episode tinnitus (SET) at 23% and continuous tinnitus (CT) at 16%.
• Leading triggers for IT were occupational and private stress; episodes commonly lasted days to weeks, with a mean frequency of every 7 weeks.
• While IT subjects showed comparable help-seeking behavior to CT subjects, they had lower prevalence of asthenia, depression, social isolation, psychiatric, and inner ear disorders.

Conclusions:

• Intermittent tinnitus (IT) is linked to emotional reactions and situational impairment, prompting treatment attempts but usually not severe disability.
• Inner ear disorders and psychological changes are less common in IT compared to CT, potentially indicating a better treatment response and prognosis.
• A proposed classification includes acute single-episode (<3 months), intermittent, and chronic persistent (>3 months) tinnitus.