Mindfulness and Tinnitus

The evidence supporting the use of mindfulness in tinnitus management is discussed. Overall, the evidence is encouraging, suggesting that there are benefits in terms of reduced tinnitus distress post intervention and at follow-up including the likelihood of continued benefit several years post intervention. More mixed results were found for the impact of mindfulness on psychological wellbeing and on perceived tinnitus loudness. There is, however, a need for an expanded database and further rigorous trials. A widely accepted definition of mindfulness (viz., what comes from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally) is explored. There are several likely processes implied in this definition including exposure, acceptance, the reduction of ironical or paradoxical information processing, cognitive change, including meta-cognitive awareness, compassion, regulation of the self, together with body awareness and changes in self-perspective. The possible roles of such processes in helping reduce tinnitus distress are discussed. Mindfulness is recognised as being diametrically opposite from tinnitus management approaches involving masking, partially masking, substituting an alternative signal for tinnitus or distracting from tinnitus. It is also distinct from relaxation programmes. The use of mindfulness in tinnitus management remains in its infancy and a systematic approach to its development is this context is required.