Having unfortunately had H. in various forms over my life (where it has lasted a fairly short time after acoustic trauma; to many years - after ototoxic damage; then two subsequent repeat "triggerings" from moderate sound exposure but for too long an 'exposure time'), I think I have fairly wide experience of the condition. As it is more debilitating than 'normal tonal T' it is something I have looked into at every opportunity for years.
So some comments on this article/approach:
- I wish they had given the length of time the trial patients had had their hyperacusis for. Yes, I know that would be a hassle but it is highly relevant as in my experience (and from what I have seen reported endless times by 'newbies' with T that often have short term H associated with it at the beginning of the affliction) H tends to dissipate on its own much more rapidly that T tends to. Anything from days, to weeks, to months...I believe only the 'harder core' cases get longer term H, and even then H tends to calm down slowly over years if not re-damaged/triggered badly.
- I wish there had been a control group who had no sound treatment at all. Or hell, even better would have been three randomized groups: one with the "Nature Sounds" as defined for 9 weeks; one with WNG's for same periods of exposure for 9 weeks; and a full control with no external added sound. That would have been very telling!
However, with a "n" of only 34 the sample size is so small it would almost impossible to do - so they did the right thing and treated everyone. The conclusions would then be based on 'general knowledge' comparisons of other treatments like WNG's/TRT, etc.
- They used "open ear canal" treatment, not headphones. Yes...very important in my opinion. Good.
- This is a nice summary: The method proposed, in addition to being an inexpensive, simple and short-lasting treatment, can be applied to hyperacusis of any degree and aetiology. This method has been effective in 97% of the cases treated.
In short, it's a helluva lot cheaper and less invasive than TRT and wearing crap over your ears for 8 hours a day or whatever. Seems to me it's also more effective, as have never been impressed with the "research" presented on TRT. It's amazing to me how so many key medical treatment centers and even the VA department responsible for T/H treatment has swallowed it so completely. Oh well....This method here is reported from 2009 and would have saved the VA a ton of money since then!
- Overall it appears to be as good a method out there, or better even, than anything else offered in the "sound treatment zone" for H - and much, much easier to do. (The verdict is still not in on Round and Oval Window Reinforcement surgery for H).
A couple of other add ons: It seems to me that if T and/or H becomes a "successive offender"...in other words if one gets repeat damage over the course of one's life (even if separated by a decade or more), it becomes more entrenched and more difficult to treat. This has been the case for me, and I make a clear distinction between people who get T or H once, then never seem to get it again (or worse version of it) once adapted to it, etc., etc. This is of course "the norm" for the vast majority of people who first get tinnitus (often with very short term stealth H), and where we get our standard numbers of "80% (or 85%, or whatever) of people soon adapt to their tinnitus and live normal lives thereafter, etc., etc., etc."
Final point. If you have bad H, or had bad H, be aware and careful of excess sound in the "future"...For me, that future has unfortunately been synonymous with "the rest of your life".
Zimichael
Member