Psychoacoustic Measures of Tinnitus

Abstract

This report reviews research from the 1930s to the present that has extended our understanding by investigating the characteristics of tinnitus that can be studied using psychoacoustic techniques. Studies of tinnitus masking and residual inhibition began in the 1970s, leading to the therapeutic use of tinnitus masking and a consequent increase in research devoted to tinnitus measurement. In 1981, the CIBA Foundation symposium on tinnitus advocated general adoption of four tinnitus measures: (1) pitch, (2) loudness, (3) maskability, and (4) residual inhibition. Since then, psychoacoustic research into all four topics has proliferated, yielding many valuable insights and controversies concerning the details of measurement techniques. A consensus has emerged that neither the loudness nor other psychoacoustic measures of tinnitus bear a consistent relation to the severity or perceived loudness of tinnitus. Nevertheless, quantification is needed in clinical trials of proposed treatments and in a variety of other types of tinnitus research. Standardization of techniques for specifying the acoustic parameters of tinnitus thus continues to be an important research goal. Abbreviations: ABLB = alternating binaural loudness balance, DL = difference limen, FCDS = forced-choice double staircase, MML = minimum masking level, PLU = personal loudness unit, Rl = residual inhibition

A Prospective Study of the Effect of Tinnitus Sound Matching Degree on the Efficacy of Customized Sound Therapy in Patients with Chronic Tinnitus

“…In our study, evaluation of the tinnitus sound matching degree served as an indicator for patients need to be tested before customizing the music. As our tinnitus matching technique is strictly protocolized during the customization of patient-specific tinnitus characteristics in reference to their own subjective perception of tinnitus sounds; subsequently, as studies have validated that the therapeutic sound most similar to patient's tinnitus can be beneficial, we believe that our results are in line with our studies [7]. Due to the diversity and complexity of subjective tinnitus sounds, there are some patients whose tinnitus sounds would not match any of the existing edited sound fragments (as in group B) in all 4 steps of the matching test process.…”

“…While customizing personalized therapeutic sounds, the tinnitus sound matching is oftentimes considered as a critical reference factor [7]. However, we found that the customized sound could not match the tinnitus sound of some patients during sound therapy, and the customized sound therapy effect of these patients remains inconclusive.…”

Combined Amplification and Sound Therapy for Individuals With Tinnitus and Coexisting Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Cohort Study

“…The pitch-matched stimulus was presented at their comfort levels, and loudness was adjusted in small steps until the subjects stated that the loudness was identical to their tinnitus loudness. 16 Narrow-band noise was used as a masking sound stimulus, and the minimum masking level (MML) was determined based on the level at which subjects indicated that the tinnitus is no longer detectable. RI was determined at the level of MML+10 dB presented for 60 seconds 16 , 17 and was recorded as complete, partial, and negative based on the post-masking effect.…”

“… 16 Narrow-band noise was used as a masking sound stimulus, and the minimum masking level (MML) was determined based on the level at which subjects indicated that the tinnitus is no longer detectable. RI was determined at the level of MML+10 dB presented for 60 seconds 16 , 17 and was recorded as complete, partial, and negative based on the post-masking effect.…”

“…Residual inhibition (RI) is one of the psychoacoustic measures of tinnitus, which is defined as a temporary decrease of tinnitus after a prolonged acoustic stimulation. 16 , 17 This post-masking effect/forward suppression can be classified as (a) complete (i.e., complete suppression of tinnitus); (b) partial (i.e., reduction in tinnitus loudness), and (c) negative (i.e., no change in tinnitus characteristics). 18 , 19 The duration and magnitude of tinnitus suppression depend on stimuli intensity, duration, and spectral characteristics.…”