/prod01/channel_2/media/site-assets/images/blog/James-Jackson-website-new-size.png)
App-based psychological interventions can reduce tinnitus distress and associated mental health difficulties, according to a study by Leeds Trinity University.
And the research also showed tailoring technology to specific conditions might further improve outcomes for patients.
Tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of external stimuli, affects 7.6 million people in the UK, and is often accompanied by anxiety, depression, insomnia, and significant psychological distress. A team of psychology researchers from Leeds Trinity University investigated the potential effects of chatbot applications that deliver cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) content to patients suffering with chronic tinnitus. The study analysed the effects of a mental health app and a tinnitus-specific app on participants’ wellbeing and quality of life over a period of eight weeks.
Both apps led to improvements in anxiety and depression, but the tinnitus-specific app produced a clinically meaningful reduction in tinnitus-related distress., showing that tailoring technology to specific conditions might further improve outcomes for patients.
Lead author Dr James Jackson, Reader in Psychology at Leeds Trinity University said: “Tinnitus is often linked with anxiety, low mood and sleep difficulties, yet access to psychological support can be limited. This highlights the need for accessible, evidence-based interventions.
“Our findings show that app-based chatbots can offer a scalable way to provide support, with the tinnitus-specific intervention producing clinically meaningful improvements in distress. This highlights the importance of tailoring digital tools to the specific needs of different patient groups.”
While multiple studies have shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can significantly improve tinnitus patients’ quality of life, delivery in clinical practice in the UK is inconsistent, according to Dr Jackson.
“CBT interventions for tinnitus may be provided by psychologists, accredited CBT therapists, audiologists with some CBT training, or hearing healthcare professionals without any formal CBT credentials,” Dr Jackson explained.
“This variation leads to uneven quality and a lack of standardisation across services. Digital interventions through apps offer a potential solution to these disparities, allowing for consistent, standardised content that is not dependent on the training background or availability of individual clinicians. This can prove life-changing for the millions of people living with tinnitus in the UK and worldwide.”