Evaluation of the tinnitus masker.

The disabling symptom of tinnitus has no predictable medical or surgical treatment. In most patients, an examination and suitable explanation or, if needed, hearing aid fitting will dispense with the problem. This article deals with another group of individuals who, for reasons of their own, feel "disabled" in their everyday lives by this disturbing, unwanted "noise." A total of thirty-four persons were referred by the otologist for further study and an evaluation of their tinnitus. The benefit of the tinnitus questionnaire and of the patient's personal evaluation of their head noise is discussed and stressed. twenty-three patients (67 percent) were fitted with a tinnitus masker. An additional five individuals (15 percent) benefited from a hearing aid fitting. Five of the total of thirty-four originally evaluated were felt to be unsuitable for a trial with the masker. At the completion of the thirty-day trial period with the instrument, nine patients returned the masker. This left a total of fifteen patients, or almost 50 percent of the original group having the evaluation, wearing the tinnitus masker with relief of their symptoms. This is a carefully selected group of individuals, but still an impressive accomplishment.