this article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: myers pj, griest s, kaelin...

This article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: Myers PJ, Griest S, Kaelin C, Legro MW, Schmidt CJ, Zaugg TL, Henry JA. Development of a progressive audiologic tinnitus management program for Veterans with tinnitus. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2014;51(4):609–22.http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2013.08.0189

Slideshow ProjectDOI:10.1682/JRRD.2013.08.0189JSP

Development of a progressive audiologic tinnitus management

program for Veterans with tinnitus

Paula J. Myers, PhD; Susan Griest, MPH; Christine Kaelin, MBA; Marcia W. Legro, PhD; Caroline J. Schmidt, PhD;

Tara L. Zaugg, AuD; James A. Henry, PhD



• Aim– Develop and pilot test protocol to provide tinnitus

services consistently across Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) audiology clinics.

• Relevance– Although tinnitus is most prevalent service-

connected disability awarded to Veterans, clinical protocols for its management are inconsistent across VA medical centers.



Method• Formulated clinical model:– 5 hierarchical levels of care were defined and labeled

Progressive Audiologic Tinnitus Management (PATM) model.

• Defined clinical procedures for each level and produced multimedia supporting materials for audiologists and patients.

• Piloted PATM model with audiology clinic patients at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, FL.



Results• Very little tinnitus-specific intervention was

required for majority of patients.– Most did not desire clinical services beyond basic

audiologic evaluation and fitting of hearing aids if indicated.



Conclusion

• Findings support progressive levels of care until tinnitus management is achieved by patient.

• Proper training of clinicians to learn how to provide tinnitus clinical services is essential.

• Patients should also be educated about uses of cognitive-behavioral strategies and sound-based methods for tinnitus management.

this article and any supplementary material should be cited as follows: myers pj, griest s, kaelin...

Documents