Barozzi Stefania, Ambrosetti Umberto, Callaway Susanna Løve, Behrens Thomas, Passoni Silvia, Bo Luca Del
Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pace, Milano, Italy.
Fondazione Ascolta e Vivi, Via Foppa Milano, Italy.
Int Tinnitus J. 2017 Dec 1;21(2):139-143. doi: 10.5935/0946-5448.20170026.
In Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) sound stimulation is conventionally performed with low-level broadband sound generators; since the patient has to receive it for many hours in a day, it is important that the sound is tolerable and agreeable to the patient. A clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different colour sound generators on tinnitus. The colour of a sound refers to the power spectrum of the signal. The sound generators used in this study provide the option to choose the preferred or most acceptable sound among white, red and pink noise.
Changes in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Numeric Rating Scales were measured in 20 patients after 3 and 6 months following the fitting of ear-level multi-colour sound generators. The outcomes were compared to a similar group of 20 participants receiving the same management except through conventional white noise sound generators. Significant improvements were obtained in both groups following 3 and 6 months after fitting. No significant difference was found between the two groups using one or the other type of sound. Two thirds of the patient preferred white noise, making it the most appealing amongst the options. The rest of the patients indicated red noise as the preferred sound given that it reminded them of soothing noises like shower or rainfall. No one chose pink noise.
TRT with different colour sound generators is effective in reducing the discomfort caused by tinnitus in normal hearing patients. Enabling the patients to choose their preferred sound after short trial periods achieved higher patient satisfaction. This practice could help tailor individualized treatment for each patient.
在耳鸣再训练疗法（TRT）中，传统上使用低水平宽带声音发生器进行声音刺激；由于患者每天必须接受数小时的声音刺激，因此声音对患者来说可耐受且令人愉悦非常重要。开展了一项临床试验以评估不同颜色声音发生器对耳鸣的影响。声音的颜色指的是信号的功率谱。本研究中使用的声音发生器提供了在白噪声、红噪声和粉红噪声中选择首选或最可接受声音的选项。
在佩戴耳级多颜色声音发生器3个月和6个月后，对20名患者的耳鸣障碍量表和数字评定量表的变化进行了测量。将结果与另一组20名参与者进行比较，这组参与者接受相同的治疗，但使用的是传统的白噪声发生器。佩戴后3个月和6个月时，两组均取得了显著改善。使用这两种声音发生器中的任何一种，两组之间均未发现显著差异。三分之二的患者更喜欢白噪声，使其成为所有选项中最具吸引力的。其余患者表示更喜欢红噪声，因为它让他们想起了如淋浴或降雨等舒缓的声音。没有人选择粉红噪声。
使用不同颜色声音发生器的耳鸣再训练疗法对于减轻听力正常患者耳鸣引起的不适有效。让患者在短时间试用后选择他们喜欢的声音可提高患者满意度。这种做法有助于为每个患者量身定制个性化治疗方案。
