Faculty of Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent, UK.
Biol Res Nurs. 2011 Jan;13(1):97-108. doi: 10.1177/1099800410382290.
About 10% of the population experiences tinnitus, a common and distressing symptom characterized by the perception of sound in the absence of external stimuli. There is, however, marked heterogeneity in etiology, perception, and extent of distress among those who experience tinnitus. Reactions to tinnitus vary from simple awareness to severe irritation; some people have difficulty in hearing because of the loudness of the noise. Severe tinnitus causes many, often psychological, symptoms (e.g., tension, frustration, impaired concentration, disrupted sleep). For some, tinnitus is temporary, for others it is longstanding. Although many people adjust successfully, others are disabled by tinnitus; approximately 5% experience persistent and severe symptoms affecting their lifestyle and significantly reducing their quality of life. Because tinnitus is poorly understood and no single therapeutic approach is effective for all patients, many patients are told that ''nothing can be done'' and they must ''learn to live with it.'' In spite of these challenges, there is remarkably little relevant nursing literature on tinnitus. This literature review was conducted to explore current knowledge of tinnitus, including prevalence, causes and diagnosis, and assessment. Its psychosocial effects and impact on individuals are considered. Implications for practice are discussed-demonstrating that understanding the full impact of the condition and identifying patients' needs are essential to effective care.
大约 10%的人口患有耳鸣，这是一种常见且令人痛苦的症状，其特征是在没有外部刺激的情况下感知到声音。然而，患有耳鸣的人群在病因、感知和痛苦程度方面存在明显的异质性。对耳鸣的反应从简单的意识到严重的刺激不等；有些人因为噪音太大而难以听到声音。严重的耳鸣会导致许多人出现许多通常是心理上的症状（例如紧张、挫折、注意力不集中、睡眠中断）。对于一些人来说，耳鸣是暂时的，而对于另一些人来说则是长期的。尽管许多人成功地适应了，但也有一些人因耳鸣而残疾；大约 5%的人患有持续且严重的症状，影响他们的生活方式，并显著降低他们的生活质量。由于耳鸣的原因尚不清楚，也没有单一的治疗方法对所有患者都有效，因此许多患者被告知“无能为力”，他们必须“学会与之共存”。尽管面临这些挑战，但关于耳鸣的相关护理文献却很少。进行这项文献回顾是为了探讨耳鸣的现有知识，包括其患病率、病因和诊断以及评估。还考虑了其对心理健康的影响及其对个体的影响。讨论了对实践的影响——表明了解该病症的全部影响并确定患者的需求对于提供有效的护理至关重要。
