In a three-group comparison, a tinnitus help-seeking group (TH) was compared on a number of different psychological measures with a tinnitus non-help-seeking group (TNH) and matched control subjects. The authors address the difference in reports of somatic complaints between the tinnitus help seekers and the other groups. The TH group showed increased scores on all psychological and somatic scales. The TNH group scores were more similar to those of the control subjects than the TH group.