Clinical trial on tinnitus patients with normal to mild hearing loss: broad band noise and mixed pure tones sound therapy.

BACKGROUND

Tinnitus treatments present a quandary for clinicians, but no thoroughly satisfactory medical treatments are offered to tinnitus patients.

OBJECTIVE

We compared sound therapy effects of the broad band noise (BBN) and the mixed pure tones on tinnitus patients with normal to mild hearing loss, and the possible mechanisms were discussed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. The patients in two groups were followed up for three months. We used a BBN in group A, and mixed pure tones of nine different frequencies in group B. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measuring were used to evaluate the handicap, loudness and anxiety of tinnitus.

RESULTS

The THI, VAS scores of group B after 3 months were lower than those at baseline. The VAS scores of group B were lower than those of group A at 8 and 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

The mixed pure tones were more advantageous than BBN as the sound therapy for tinnitus patients with normal to mild hearing loss.

SIGNIFICANCE

This trial provides a special and effective sound therapy method. Tinnitus patients with normal to mild hearing loss will experience more positive effects.