Tinnitus is defined as the sensation of noise in the absence of a corresponding external sound. It consists of two parameters, a phantom ringing, hissing or buzzing in the ears or head and the degree of emotional reaction to this percept. Epidemiological studies suggest that it affects 10-30% of adult population in EU countries, while its incidence reaches 5.4 new cases /10000 inhabitants. Beside the societal and individual burden, the economic one is gigantic as well. For each of the affected patients, tinnitus healthcare cost is estimated to be 500 -1500 € per year.
Interdisciplinary approach and individualized treatment plan are key points for successful management, due to the great heterogeneity of symptoms. All around Europe, ENT physicians, audiologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, behavioral neuroscientists, general practitioners, nurses, customer advocates, psychoacousticians, basic scientists and patient representatives work on providing highly personalized upto-date diagnostic and management services and collaborate in varied research projects focusing on tinnitus pathophysiology, assessment and possible cures.
Interprofessional Training for Tinnitus Researchers and Clinicians (Tin-TRAC) will create digital resources that are going to be available to a wide audience of healthcare professionals, clinicians and researchers for the purpose of integrating tinnitus assessment and management in terms of clinical and research practice throughout EU. Tin -TRAC’s co- creative health culture and audio-visual resources aim to be understandable from patients and professionals from varied background, via a horizontal thematic approach to exploit recent (neuro)scientific advances on the field and acquire tinnitus specialized skills, through webinars, workshops, scientific exchange and innovative learning objectives.
Tin-TRAC exploits, complements and expands the output of the Horizon 2020 project UNITI (Unification of Treatments and Interventions for Tinnitus Patients). The dissemination and exploitation of the outcome will be done both at educational authorities such as the universities and research centers, as well as at clinical centers and patient associations across EU.
Hence, Tin-TRAC will:
