Sound therapy (masking) in the management of tinnitus in adults

Hobson, Jonathan; Chisholm, Edward J.; Refaie, Amr El

doi:10.1002/14651858.cd006371.pub2

Cited by 105 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…32 The individual elements have been investigated, but again the evidence base is poor. In a systematic review, the effi cacy of sound therapy approaches was inconclusive, 40 though for many clinicians the practice of fi tting hearing aids for individuals with tinnitus associated with hearing loss is axiomatic. 41 The use of wideband sound therapy devicesinitially used to cover the tinnitus completely, and hence called maskers-is similarly unsupported by evidence.…”

Section: Standard Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tinnitus

Baguley¹,

McFerran²,

Hall³

2013

The Lancet

1,022

911

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Tinnitus is a common medical symptom that can be debilitating. Risk factors include hearing loss, ototoxic medication, head injury, and depression. At presentation, the possibilities of otological disease, anxiety, and depression should be considered. No eff ective drug treatments are available, although much research is underway into mechanisms and possible treatments. Surgical intervention for any otological pathology associated with tinnitus might be eff ective for that condition, but the tinnitus can persist. Available treatments include hearing aids when hearing loss is identifi ed (even mild or unilateral), wide-band sound therapy, and counselling. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is indicated for some patients, but availability of tinnitus-specifi c CBT in the UK is poor. The evidence base is strongest for a combination of sound therapy and CBT-based counselling, although clinical trials are constrained by the heterogeneity of patients with tinnitus.

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Section: Standard Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tinnitus

Baguley¹,

McFerran²,

Hall³

2013

The Lancet

1,022

911

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“…It can be observed from the studies that the interventions which needs highlevel evidence for establishing their efficacy are tinnitus masking, tinnitus retraining therapy, hearing aids and counselling, excluding cognitive behaviour therapy. Hobson et al 55 after reviewing six randomized controlled studies reported that tinnitus masking with hearing aids had a positive impact on a hearing handicap and overall quality of life; however, the role of each approach could not be evaluated effectively. Jastreboff 56 stressed on the effectiveness of sound therapy in tinnitus intervention, and also on the importance of hearing aids in providing sound therapy.…”

Section: Review Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of Tinnitus: A Scoping Review

Makar¹,

Mukundan²,

Gore³

2017

The International Tinnitus Journal

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Background: Tinnitus is a perception of an auditory sensation without the presence of an external sound. It has devastating impact on the quality of life and psychosocial aspect of the sufferer. Mechanisms of tinnitus not clear; however, its management include counselling, hearing aids, tinnitus masking, relaxation therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy. Objective: To conduct a scoping review to explore the role of counselling, hearing aids, tinnitus masking, relaxation therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy in India. To also provide an overview of efficacy of these approaches in tinnitus management. Research Design: Scoping review. Study Sample: Experimental studies, follow-up assessments, and reviews assessing tinnitus treatment approaches were identified as a result of an electronic database met search. Results: The evidence suggests that all tinnitus management programs have their unique benefits in the treatment of tinnitus. Given the confounding variables that include length of therapy, tinnitus severity and subject population, the overall level of evidence is equivocal. Nonetheless, the efficacy of CBT appears reasonably established and combined approach (masking + counselling + attention diversion) appears to be most promising for audiologists for future tinnitus management. A common ground of therapeutic elements was established and evidence was found to be robust enough to guide clinical practice. Conclusion: The use of more robust methodology with well-defined control groups, as well as randomization of clinical trials in future studies would increase the quality of evidence in the study of tinnitus management. Clinical recommendation: Combined therapies (masking + counselling + attention diversion) appear more appropriate in the treatment of tinnitus as the evidence is not sufficient to support a specific treatment method.

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“…The methodological quality of treatment trials is heterogeneous in the extreme, as emphasized in all available Cochrane meta-analyses that touch on tinnitus (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). Accordingly, efforts are being made to improve quality standards in clinical trials of the treatment of tinnitus (25)(26)(27)(28).…”

Section: Knowledge Basementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the widespread use of masking procedures, only limited data are available from controlled trials (19,30). According to a Cochrane meta-analysis, the efficacy of tinnitus masking has been neither clearly proved nor disproved (19).…”

Section: Individualized Auditory Stimulationmentioning

confidence: 99%