Tinnitus Sound Therapy Trial Shows Effectiveness for Those with Tinnitus

Richard S Tyler; Ann Perreau; Thomas Powers; Alexandra Watts; Rachael Owen; Helena Ji; Patricia C Mancini

doi:10.3766/jaaa.18027

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Tinnitus Sound Therapy Trial Shows Effectiveness for Those with Tinnitus

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Tinnitus Sound Therapy Trial Shows Effectiveness for Those with Tinnitus

Richard S Tyler, Ann Perreau, Thomas Powers, Alexandra Watts, Rachael Owen, Helena Ji and Patricia C Mancini

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Vol.31(1), pp.6-016

01/2020

DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.18027

PMID: 31210635

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Abstract

It is well accepted among clinicians that maskers and hearing aids combined with counseling are generally helpful to tinnitus patients, but there are few controlled studies exploring the efficacy of maskers alone to decrease the prominence of tinnitus. We investigated the benefit of maskers for patients with chronic, bothersome tinnitus. Crossover single-participant design, where each participant served as their own control. 18 adults with subjective, nonpulsatile, sensorineural tinnitus. Participants participated in two six-week trials: one with sound therapy and one without. No counseling was provided in either group. Masking devices were fit with sounds intended to reduce the tinnitus prominence. Participants rated tinnitus loudness, tinnitus annoyance, and acceptability of the background sounds using a numeric 0-100 interval scale and completed the Tinnitus Primary Functions Questionnaire (TPFQ). Three participants dropped out. On the total score of the TPFQ, 5 of 15 remaining participants (33%) showed a benefit. Using a derived score based on functions showing a handicap before the study, maskers benefit was observed in the areas of sleep (five of nine), hearing (three of eight), thoughts and emotions (three of four), and concentration (four of eight). The TPFQ and annoyance data complemented each other well. This study demonstrates the benefit of partial masking, encouraging patients to seek help from audiologists interested in providing support for tinnitus patients.

Aged

Cross-Over Studies

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Patient Satisfaction

Perceptual Masking

Surveys and Questionnaires

Tinnitus - therapy

Details

Title: Subtitle: Tinnitus Sound Therapy Trial Shows Effectiveness for Those with Tinnitus
Creators: Richard S Tyler - University of Iowa
Ann Perreau - Augustana College
Thomas Powers - Sivantos, Inc., Piscataway, NJ
Alexandra Watts - Augustana College
Rachael Owen - University of Iowa
Helena Ji - University of Iowa
Patricia C Mancini - Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Vol.31(1), pp.6-016
DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.18027
PMID: 31210635
NLM abbreviation: J Am Acad Audiol
ISSN: 1050-0545
eISSN: 2157-3107
Publisher: American Academy of Audiology
Language: English
Date published: 01/2020
Academic Unit: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984258733702771

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