Development and Effectiveness of Tinnitus Activities Treatment-Online, a Self-Paced Remote Counseling Program

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Mental Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Access to in-person tinnitus intervention is challenging for many.
• Tinnitus Activities Treatment-Online (TAT-Online) was developed as a remote solution.
• The program aims to provide tinnitus education and coping strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the TAT-Online program.
• To assess the acceptability of remote tinnitus counseling.
• To determine the impact on adults with chronic tinnitus.

Main Methods:

• Adults with chronic tinnitus participated in a 6-week self-paced online program.
• Weekly modules included educational videos, strategy practice, and quizzes.
• Effectiveness was measured using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires; acceptability was assessed via exit surveys.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in all tinnitus measures post-intervention.
• Participants reported significantly lower tinnitus loudness and annoyance.
• The TAT-Online program received high effectiveness ratings (9/10) and was found acceptable and easy to follow.

Conclusions:

• Self-paced remote tinnitus counseling is effective for learning coping strategies.
• TAT-Online offers a viable solution for tinnitus management.
• Future research will include a randomized control trial and explore combination therapies.