Internet-Based Self-Help Treatment for Tinnitus Publisher



Kouhi A ; Sharifi A
Source: Published:2025

Abstract

Recently, internet-based approaches for hearing-related services have presented considerable reliability and efficacy in comparison with traditional in-clinic methods. In this chapter, all aspects of internet-based self-help treatment for tinnitus patients are discussed. Internet-based therapies can cover different aspects of tinnitus management such as online counseling, internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, peer support, and sound therapy. However, these modules need guidance during treatment courses including supports regarding patients’ questions, outlining the content of modules, providing feedback, monitoring weekly scores, and monitoring progress. It is shown that internet-based methods can have comparable efficacy and outcomes to in-person methods, and they can also reduce the general costs per patient per year. It is worth mentioning that the characteristics or occurrence of side effects following internet-based treatment for tinnitus have not yet been known clearly. The need of internet-based methods for tinnitus patients was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tinnitus patients often report a more noticeable tinnitus in the quiet, and the absence of masking sounds in daily life due to the quarantine may have made the tinnitus perception more noticeable. Additionally, the increased anxiety and stress levels are potential risk factors for worsening tinnitus. All of these factors during the pandemic have presented new insights about the priority of the internet-based self-help treatment for tinnitus patients. The next generation of internet-based self-help treatments will probably enroll Artificial Intelligence to combine multimodal sets. In recent years, the use of AI in various fields of medicine have surged and considering its function and mode of action, different aspects of tinnitus management may be covered by AI in future. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.