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J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32(04): 212-218
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1722984
Research Article

Effects of Tinnitus Sound Therapy Determined Using Subjective Measurements

In-Ki Jin
1   Division of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Research Institute of Audiology and Speech Pathology, College of Natural Sciences, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
,
Soon-Je Choi
2   Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
,
Jeeun Yoo
2   Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
,
Seungyeop Jeong
2   Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
,
Sohee Heo
2   Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
,
Hongyeop Oh
2   Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Graduate School, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea
› Author Affiliations
Funding This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean Government (Ministry of Science and ICT; Grant NRF-2018R1C1B6003765).
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Abstract

Background Sound therapy is generally considered as an effective method for relieving tinnitus. There have been various reports on the effects of tinnitus interventions involving sound therapy as a component; however, there have been only a small number of reports on the effects of sound therapy itself on tinnitus.

Purpose The aim of the study is to elucidate whether sound therapy significantly improves tinnitus as determined by subjective measurements.

Research Design Prospective study involves within-subject (baseline, 3-month, 6-month) measurements.

Study Sample This includes 16 adults with subjective and sensorineural tinnitus.

Intervention Participants undertook sound therapy for 3 hours a day for 6 months. The level of stimulus for sound therapy was set to the mixing point of each participant. No counseling was provided.

Data Collection and Analysis Participants rated the visual analog scale for loudness and annoyance using a numeric 0 to 100 point scale and completed the Korean version of the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire at the baseline, 3-month, and 6-month time points.

Results Sound therapy led to significant improvements of tinnitus in participants in all subjective measurements. Significant effects were found not only between the baseline and 3-month but also between the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.

Conclusion Results of the present study showed that the sound therapy alone led to significant improvements of tinnitus in participants as assessed by subjective measurements. To improve the effects of sound therapy, consistent sound therapy may be required for a certain period of time such as 3 hours a day over a 6-month period.

Keywords

tinnitus - sound therapy - subjective tinnitus

Note

Pilot data of this article were presented at the American Auditory Society Annual Meeting as a poster presentation. This article has not been submitted to any journals.


Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Hallym University (HIRB-2018-054-3-RCR), and each participant received a written explanation of the aims, protocol, and procedures of the study and provided written informed consent before participating.




Publication History

Received: 14 May 2020

Accepted: 18 September 2020

Article published online:
25 May 2021

© 2021. American Academy of Audiology. This article is published by Thieme.

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