The aim of this study was to investigate hyperacusis measurement tools and to assess the correlation between diagnostic methods for hyperacusis in daily ENT practice. We studied two hyperacusis questionnaires: the Hyperacusis Questionnaire (HQ) and the Multiple-Activity Scale for Hyperacusis (MASH), audiometric measurements (uncomfortable loudness level (ULL) and dynamic range (DR)), and the questions 'Do you have a lower tolerance for noise... ?' and 'Are you afraid of noise?' Hyperacusis was assessed in 46 patients presenting with primary complaints of tinnitus. A validated Dutch version of the HQ is provided. A correlation was found between scores on the HQ and the MASH (p=0.000, R(2)=0.34). Significantly higher scores for both questionnaires were found in patients reporting decreased sound tolerance (p=0.000 and 0.002, respectively) or fear of noise (p=0.002 and 0.004, respectively). Overall, no correlations were found between scores on questionnaires and audiometric values including ULL and DR. The HQ and MASH were confirmed to be valid measurement tools for hyperacusis complaints. No correlations were found between audiometric measurements and hyperacusis complaints.

Several parameters determine the amount of tinnitus reduction after TMS. An increased stimulation intensity relative to the patient's motor threshold only accounts for 10% of this effect. Our data also suggest different pathophysiologic mechanisms for unilateral and bilateral tinnitus.

Phase-shift treatment is a new tinnitus therapy that aims at sound cancelling. This technique is based on a theory advocating that the induction of a sound wave with a 180 degrees phase-shift compared to the sound experienced by the patient could result in sound cancelling, likely by negation of the cortical perception of tinnitus or residual inhibition, which can be partial or complete. The aim of our study is to compare the effect of phase-shifting generated by the tinnitus phase-out device between pure tone tinnitus patients (PTP) and narrow band noise tinnitus patients (NBNP). In present comparative study, we explore the effects of phase-shifting during 6 weeks of phase-out therapy in PTP and NBNP. Thirty-five tinnitus patients were included in the study. Twenty-one patients had pure tone tinnitus and 14 patients had narrow band noise tinnitus. The effects on tinnitus were assessed using three separate visual analogue scales (VAS), the tinnitus questionnaire, the hyperacusis questionnaire, the Beck depression inventory, a categorical scale and audiometric measurements. While no differences in VAS were seen after therapy in NBNP, tinnitus increase could be demonstrated in PTP. This increase could be demonstrated for tinnitus loudness (p = 0.002) and tinnitus annoyance (p = 0.014). In conclusion, implementation of phase-shifting did not lead to significant sound cancelling. Our results are discussed and compared to previous studies investigating the effects of phase-out in tinnitus patients.

Although tinnitus reduction was recorded as modest, this article provides valuable data demonstrating a placebo-controlled tinnitus reduction after clonazepam and Deanxit intake.

on www.clinicaltrials.gov: the visual analog scale was then assigned as the primary outcome measure. According to a study performed in our center (1), we suggest the standard assessment of 5 tinnitus dimensions in daily ENT practice, namely, tinnitus perception, disease-specific healthrelated quality of life, hyperacusis, tinnitus pitch, and tinnitus loudness. In line with the recommendations of the Tinnitus Research Initiative (2), several tinnitus measurement tools were used in the current paper. We consequently included tinnitus measurement methods from all 5 dimensions to detect even the slightest tinnitus alteration.Moreover, statistical analysis was performed using a general model of repeated measures, with the group assignment (A or B) added as factor. This way, a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study could be performed with a crossover setting. Moreover, Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. In our opinion, this study was therefore performed in an adequate scientific setting, and our results were obtained with correct statistical analysis.You also emphasize the fact that a difference between clonazepam-placebo and clonazepam-Deanxit was only demonstrated for 1 tinnitus measure. According to our data, differences were found for both percentage of the waking time patients are annoyed by the tinnitus and visual analogue scale for mean tinnitus annoyance in a statistically significant way. The fact that 7.5 points on a 100point scale is hardly meaningful from a clinical standpoint is already mentioned and discussed in our article.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract