Techn. Univ., Diss., 2010--München.

Tübingen, Univ., Diss., 2001.

Die Arbeit umfasst die Auswertung der klinischen Daten von 108 konsekutiv am Kopf- und Schädelbasis-Zentrum, Klinikum Fulda, zwischen Juli 2013 und September 2015 nachuntersuchten Patienten mit pulssynchronen Ohrgeräuschen. Die Patienten waren gemäß eines einheitlichen, strukturierten und routinemäßigen Diagnose- und Behandlungspfads untersucht worden. Die notwendige Bildgebung umfasste die Computertomographie, die Magnetresonanztomographie sowie die Magnetresonanzangiographie und die Sonographie der Halsgefäße. Eine digitale Subtraktionsangiographie wurde nach strenger Indikationsstellung in ausgewählten Fällen vorgenommen. Ziel war es, zugrundeliegende Ursachen und Diagnosen für das Symptom pulssynchrones Ohrgeräusch festzumachen. Die erhobenen Befunde wurden je nach Plausibilitätsgrad in 4 Gruppen klassifiziert: eindeutig, wahrscheinlich, plausibel, und unklar. Zusätzlich erfolgte die Auswertung der angewandten therapeutischen Behandlungsansätze und ihrer Ergebnisse. Die häufigsten Ursachen waren ein hochstehender Bulbus der Vena jugularis interna mit 19%, eine Schleife der Arteria cerebelli inferior anterior im inneren Gehörgang mit 15% gefolgt von einer arteriovenösen Fistel mit 10% und Gefäßstenosen mit 9%. Bei ca. 30% unseres Patientenkollektivs konnte keine Quelle für das pulsierende Ohrgeräusch eruiert werden. Bei 29% der Patienten konnte die Ursache als eindeutig klassifiziert werden, bei 25% als plausible Ursache und bei 17% als wahrscheinlich. Bei den insgesamt 14 Patienten, die entweder eine konservative oder eine interventionell/chirurgische Behandlung erhielten, kam es bei 71% zu einer Beseitigung des Ohrgeräusches. 5 von 7 Patienten mit einer a.v. Fistel waren, nach einer erfolgreichen endovaskulären Intervention, postoperativ beschwerdefrei. Eine angioplastische Intervention mittels Stenting führte bei zwei Patienten mit einer ACI Stenose (>70%) zur Beseitigung des Ohrgeräusches. Jeweils ein Patient profitierte von der Behandlung einer Bogengangsdehiszenz, einer intrakraniellen Hypertension sowie einer chirurgischen Sanierung eines Paraganglioms, nach vorgegangener endovaskulärer Embolisation, mit der daraus resultierenden Auslöschung des Ohrgeräusches. Bei den restlichen Patienten persistierte es trotz Behandlung. Ein pulssynchrones Ohrgeräusch hat viele äußerst unterschiedliche Ursachen. Für eine sachgerechte Evaluation und adäquate Behandlung von Patienten mit pulssynchronem Ohrgeräusch ist eine enge multidisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit unabdingbar. Eine eindeutige Diagnose kann oft nur gestellt werden, wenn alle klinischen sowie alle bildmorphologischen Befunde, die auf einem einheitlichen, routinemäßigen Untersuchungsprotokoll basieren, zusammengetragen und kritisch abgestimmt werden. / This thesis summarizes the clinical data of 108 consecutive patients with pulsatile tinnitus that had been diagnosed and treated at the Head and Skull Base Center, Klinikum Fulda, between July 2013 and September 2015. Patients‘ data had been examined retrospectively according to a systematic, standardized, structured diagnostic and treatment protocol. Necessary imaging included computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography and sonography of the neck vessels. Digital subtraction angiography was performed in selected cases under strict indication. The aim was to establish underlying causes and diagnoses for the symptom of pulsatile tinnitus. The findings were classified into four groups depending on the degree of plausibility: definite, probable, plausible, and unclear. In addition, the applied therapeutic treatment approaches and their results were evaluated. The most frequent cause was a high-riding jugular bulb in 19%, a loop of the inferior cerebellar artery into the internal auditory canal in 15%, followed by a dural arteriovenous fistula in 10% and vascular stenoses in 9%. No cause for the pulsatile tinnitus could be identified in approximately 30% of the examined patients. In 29% the cause could be classified as definite, in 17% as probable and in 25% as plausible. An elimination of the pulsatile tinnitus was achieved in 71% of the fourteen patients who received either conservative or interventional/surgical treatment. Five patients with a dural a.v. fistula were symptom-free after successful endovascular intervention. Two patients with pulsatile tinnitus caused by ACI stenosis (>70%) were successfully treated with vascular stenting. One patient each benefited from treatment of semicircular canal dehiscence, intracranial hypertension and surgery of a paraganglioma following endovascular embolization. In few patients the pulsatile tinnitus persisted despite treatment. Pulsatile tinnitus has many various underlying causes. Interdisciplinary teamwork is essential for a proper evaluation and adequate treatment.

No description available.

Internet-based self-management interventions have the potential to reduce the current disparity in access to psychological support for people with tinnitus. One example is the Tinnitus E-Programme, which was developed in the United Kingdom to support self-management in people with tinnitus. Although freely available online, there was little understanding of how the intervention is used, its active ingredients, how it works, the circumstances in which it works best, and whom it works best for. This PhD aimed to address these issues by evaluating and optimising the Tinnitus E-Programme. A systematic review of self-help interventions for tinnitus was conducted, which concluded that there was a need for further evaluations of unguided self-help interventions in UK populations. A mixed methods study explored past, current, and new users’ (n=40) views and usage of the Tinnitus E-Programme (1.0), demonstrating that it was acceptable to people with tinnitus. However, its implementation was limited by instances of poor usability, user engagement, and adherence to behavioural goals. Consistent with a person-based approach, the findings from this mixed methods study were used alongside evidence-based (i.e. systematic and literature reviews) and theory-based (i.e. behavioural analysis and logic modelling) approaches to develop the Tinnitus E-Programme 2.0. Think aloud interviews with 19 people with tinnitus evaluated this new version of the intervention and findings revealed that the Tinnitus E-Programme 2.0 was acceptable to its target users. The two primary research studies highlighted how users’ pre-existing beliefs regarding tinnitus and self-management, their perceptions of relevance, and the nature of tinnitus can influence users’ engagement with the Tinnitus E-Programme 1.0 and 2.0. Several cognitive factors (e.g. illness beliefs), behavioural factors (e.g. practicing relaxation), and behavioural determinants (e.g. motivation to practice relaxation) were identified by users to explain how changes in intervention outcomes may occur. Further development and implementation work is needed that introduces and evaluates additional intervention content and design features, and explores how the intervention can fit into current clinical service models for tinnitus. Future evaluation work should test the hypothesised mechanisms of impact and contextual factors proposed in this work, and assess the acceptability and feasibility of procedures for subsequent randomised controlled trials that will assess the efficacy of the intervention.

Objective: Individuals with tinnitus and co-occurring psychological conditions typically rate their tinnitus as more disturbing than individuals without such comorbidities. Little is known about how tinnitus self-efficacy, or the confidence that individuals have in their abilities to successfully manage the effects of tinnitus, is influenced by mental or psychological health (PH) status. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of psychological state on tinnitus perceptions and tinnitus self-efficacy in individuals with chronic tinnitus. Design: Observational study. Three groups (N = 199) were examined and included: (1) those with tinnitus without a concurrent psychological condition (tinnitus-only; n = 103), (2) those with tinnitus and concurrent PH condition other than post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; tinnitus + PH; n = 34), and (3) those with tinnitus and PTSD (tinnitus + PTSD; n = 62). The Self-Efficacy for Tinnitus Management Questionnaire (SETMQ) was administered. Responses on the SETMQ were compared among the groups, as well as to other indicators of tinnitus perception such as (1) the percentage of time tinnitus was audible (tinnitus awareness), (2) the percentage of time tinnitus was distressing/bothersome, (3) tinnitus loudness, (4) tinnitus handicap inventory scores, (5) subjective ratings of degree of hearing loss, and (6) subjective ratings of sound tolerance problems. Results: The tinnitus + PTSD group reported significantly poorer tinnitus self-efficacy levels on average than the tinnitus-only group on all SETMQ subscales and poorer self-efficacy levels than the tinnitus + PH group for most subscales (except for routine management and devices). Tinnitus self-efficacy levels were similar between the tinnitus + PH and tinnitus-only groups except for the emotional response subscale in which the tinnitus-only patients reported higher self-efficacy on average than both the other groups. Group differences were not seen for tinnitus loudness ratings nor for the amount of time individuals were aware of their tinnitus. Group differences were observed for the percentage of time tinnitus was distressing/bothersome, self-reported degree of hearing loss, sound tolerance problems ratings, and responses on the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI). In general, the group differences revealed patient ratings for the tinnitus-only group were least severe, followed by the tinnitus + PH group, and the tinnitus + PTSD group rated tinnitus effects as most severe. With all patient responses, the tinnitus + PTSD group was found to be significantly more affected by tinnitus than the tinnitus-only group; in some cases, the responses were similar between the tinnitus + PTSD and tinnitus + PH group and in other cases, responses were similar between the tinnitus + PH group and the tinnitus-only group. Conclusions: Tinnitus self-efficacy, along with other self-assessed tinnitus characteristics, varied across groups distinguished by PH diagnoses. In general, individuals with tinnitus and concurrent PTSD reported significantly poorer tinnitus self-efficacy and more handicapping tinnitus effects when compared to individuals with other psychological conditions or those with tinnitus alone. The group differences highlighted the need to consider tinnitus self-efficacy in intervention strategies, particularly for patients with tinnitus and concurrent PTSD as the results reiterated the unique ability of PTSD to interact in powerful and disturbing ways with the tinnitus experience and with patients’ coping ability.

Abstract is available through the Journal of Hearing Science.

Konstanz, Univ., Diss., 2009

Thesis (Au.D.)--James Madison University, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. Univ. Konstanz, 2009.