An app supporting the self-management of tinnitus

Tinnitus is an annoying ringing in the ears, in varying shades and intensities. Tinnitus can affect a patient's overall health and social well-being (e.g., sleep problems, trouble concentrating, anxiety, depression and inability to work). Usually, the diagnostic procedure of tinnitus passes through three steps, i.e., audiological examination, psychoacoustic measurement, and disability evaluation. All steps are performed by physicians, by using dedicated hardware/software and administering questionnaires. The paper reports on the results of a one-year running project whose aim is to directly support patients in such a diagnostic procedure, and in particular on an Android app that controls an ad-hoc developed device and automate both the execution of the audiometric examinations and the administration of the questionnaires that measure the disability induced by the tinnitus.