Investigation of the Effectiveness of Sound Enrichment in the Treatment of Tinnitus Due to Hearing Loss

[Vadimus]

The results are very impressive. The program used in the study to create the therapy (Praat program) seems to be free and available for download.

Methods

A total of 96 patients with chronic tinnitus were included in the study. Fifty‐two patients in the study group and 44 patients in the placebo group considered residual inhibition (RI) outcomes and tinnitus pitches. Both groups received sound enrichment treatment with different spectrum contents. The tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), visual analog scale (VAS), minimum masking level (MML), and tinnitus loudness level (TLL) results were compared before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in THI, VAS, MML, and TLL scores from the first month to all months after treatment (p < .01). For the study group, there was a statistically significant decrease in THI, VAS, MML, and TLL scores in the first month (p < .01). This decrease continued at a statistically significant level in the third month of posttreatment for THI (p < .05) and at all months for VAS‐1 (tinnitus severity) (p < .05) and VAS‐2 (tinnitus discomfort) (p < .05).

Conclusion

In clinical practice, after excluding other factors related to the tinnitus etiology, sound enrichment treatment can be effective in tinnitus cases where RI is positive and the tinnitus pitch is matched with a hearing loss between 45 and 55 dB HL in a relatively short period of 1 month.

Table 2 shows the VAS scores of the patients during the treatment and the statistical evaluation between the groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for time‐dependent change of VAS scores (tinnitus severity, p < .001, tinnitus discomfort, p < .001, attention deficit, p < .001, and sleep difficulty, p < .001). VAS scores in the study group decreased statistically significantly during the treatment process (tinnitus severity, p < .001, tinnitus discomfort, p < .001, attention deficit, p < .001, and sleep difficulty, p < .001), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in the placebo group (tinnitus severity, p = .74, tinnitus discomfort, p = .65, attention deficit, p = .57, and sleep difficulty, p = .63) during the treatment process.

Table 3 shows the THI scores of the patients during the treatment and the statistical evaluation between the groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for the time‐dependent change of THI scores (p < .001). THI scores in the study group decreased statistically significantly during the treatment process (p < .001), whereas no statistically significant difference was observed in the placebo group (p = .59).

Investigation of the effectiveness of sound enrichment in the treatment of tinnitus due to hearing loss

 

[Tim Moore]

This is really interesting! It suggests that sound enrichment can be effective for people who have tinnitus specifically induced by hearing loss (like me). So, my next question is: how do I try it? How does someone go about obtaining the custom sounds needed for listening?

 

[Nick47]

This is really interesting! It suggests that sound enrichment can be effective for people who have tinnitus specifically induced by hearing loss (like me). So, my next question is: how do I try it? How does someone go about obtaining the custom sounds needed for listening?

Patients with positive RI, tinnitus pitch in the range of 45–55 dB HL hearing loss, and meeting both criteria were included in the study.

So those who experience residual inhibition and have hearing loss in the 45–55 dB range.

 

[Tim Moore]

So those who experience residual inhibition and have hearing loss in the 45–55 dB range.

From what I understand, I have a single notch of hearing loss at 45 dB in my left ear, specifically at 6000 Hz, with no loss in other areas. I suspect this is the source of my tinnitus, so I'm curious if this could help me!

 

[JRC1]

Can someone sort of "dumb this down" for me? Aren't these results really impressive?

 

[Vadimus]

I e-mailed the author of the study. I asked if I could send my audiogram and use it to prepare audio therapy based on his study. Or would I need to be there in person? I wrote that I am ready to pay for such a service, if it is possible. I also specified that my hearing loss is related to otosclerosis, i.e. I have a dysfunction in the middle ear. The author of the study lives in Turkey. I received a reply from him today.

Researcher's response:

Hello,

First of all, thank you for your kind thoughts. Since tinnitus is a symptom, it can be caused by many pathologies. When the underlying pathology is only hearing loss, the treatment we are working on can give very promising results. However, if tinnitus is accompanied by an etiology other than hearing loss, the results of the treatment may vary. For this reason, it would be better to examine first. I know it is not easy to come from another country, but it would not be right to make a treatment remotely.

 

[Tim Moore]

I e-mailed the author of the study. I asked if I could send my audiogram and use it to prepare audio therapy based on his study. Or would I need to be there in person? I wrote that I am ready to pay for such a service, if it is possible. I also specified that my hearing loss is related to otosclerosis, i.e. I have a dysfunction in the middle ear. The author of the study lives in Turkey. I received a reply from him today.

Researcher's response:

Hello,

First of all, thank you for your kind thoughts. Since tinnitus is a symptom, it can be caused by many pathologies. When the underlying pathology is only hearing loss, the treatment we are working on can give very promising results. However, if tinnitus is accompanied by an etiology other than hearing loss, the results of the treatment may vary. For this reason, it would be better to examine first. I know it is not easy to come from another country, but it would not be right to make a treatment remotely.

Thank you for following up on this! I also emailed who I believe is the author, though I haven't received a response yet. I think the person's name is Eser Sendesen? Would you mind sharing who you emailed? Thank you!

 

[Vadimus]

Thank you for following up on this! I also emailed who I believe is the author, though I haven't received a response yet. I think the person's name is Eser Sendesen? Would you mind sharing who you emailed? Thank you!

Yes, I wrote to him in both English and Turkish. He replied to me in Turkish, but it took about a week for him to respond.

ResearchGate: Eser Sendesen

He is a young scientist specializing in tinnitus who has published several scientific papers on the subject, referenced by other researchers, and conducted a case study with very encouraging results. Perhaps he would be a good candidate for a Tinnitus Quest grant?

Can someone sort of "dumb this down" for me? Aren't these results really impressive?

I think the results are extremely impressive, even if they only worked for a narrow group of patients. As far as I know, such significant tinnitus volume reduction has never been confirmed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial before. Additionally, the treatment is simple, affordable, and non-invasive, which makes it even more remarkable.