Third-Party Disability for Significant Others of Individuals with Tinnitus: A Cross-Sectional Survey Design

Abstract

There is currently increasing awareness of third-party disability, defined as the disability and functioning of a significant other (SO) due to a health condition of one of their family members. The effects of third-party disability on the SOs of individuals with tinnitus has received little attention. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigated third-party disability in the significant others (SOs) of individuals with tinnitus. A cross-sectional survey design included 194 pairs of individuals from the USA with tinnitus and their significant others. The SO sample completed the Consequences of Tinnitus on Significant Others Questionnaire (CTSOQ). Individuals with tinnitus completed standardized self-reported outcome measures for tinnitus severity, anxiety, depression, insomnia, hearing-related quality of life, tinnitus cognitions, hearing disability, and hyperacusis. The CTSOQ showed that 34 (18%) of the SOs were mildly impacted, 59 (30%) were significantly impacted, and 101 (52%) were severely impact. The clinical variables of tinnitus severity, anxiety, and hyperacusis in individuals with tinnitus were the best predictors of the impact of tinnitus on SOs. These results show that the SOs of individuals with tinnitus may experience third-party disability. The effect of the individual’s tinnitus on their SO may be greater when the individual with tinnitus has a higher level of tinnitus severity, anxiety, and hyperacusis.

Third-party disability in family caregivers of disabled elderly after stroke based on ICF framework: a qualitative study in Shanghai, China

“…"Third-party disability" (i.e., changes in functioning and disability due to environmental factors critical to the health status of signi cant others) is an extension of "disability" (i.e., the result of the interaction between environmental factors and the health status of the individual), with a signi cant emphasis on family member functioning and social participation limitations. Although the ICF framework originated relatively recently, it has been widely used in thirdparty disabilities in patients both nationally and internationally, such as aphasia after stroke [11] , hearing impairment [12] , dysphagia [13] , and children with disabilities [14] , taking advantage of a common language that facilitates global communication across different disciplines and elds. Family caregivers of the disabled elderly are impaired in all aspects of functioning.…”