Higher social support is associated with lower tinnitus-related disability among institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study

Tinnitus-related disability among older adults in long-term care facilities may reflect not only auditory symptoms but also functional and psychosocial vulnerability. This study examined the association between perceived social support and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)-defined tinnitus-related disability among older long-term care residents with chronic subjective tinnitus.

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Audiologists managing tinnitus in institutionalized older adults should assess social support as a contributing factor to tinnitus-related disability and consider involving care staff or social workers alongside standard audiological interventions.

Demonstrating a social support–tinnitus disability link in a care home population underscores the need for psychosocially informed tinnitus management strategies beyond device fitting and auditory therapies.

1. 01Higher perceived social support correlates with lower tinnitus-related disability in institutionalized older adults.
2. 02Cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation — social support may not directly reduce tinnitus burden.
3. 03Study highlights psychosocial factors often overlooked in clinical tinnitus management.
4. 04Published in Frontiers in Public Health, 2026.
5. 05Findings are specific to a long-term care (institutionalized) population and may not generalize to community-dwelling adults.

PMID

42780264

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2026.1886767.

Journal

Frontiers in Public Health

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

3

Population

Institutionalized older adults with tinnitus in long-term care settings

Intervention

Assessment of perceived social support level

Comparator

Lower social support (observational comparison within study)