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Waechter S, Olovsson M, Pettersson P. Should Tinnitus Patients with Subclinical Hearing Impairment Be Offered Hearing Aids? A Comparison of Tinnitus Mitigation Following 3 Months Hearing Aid Use in Individuals with and without Clinical Hearing Impairment. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7660. [PMID: 38137729 PMCID: PMC10744002 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a consensus among tinnitus experts to not recommend hearing aids for tinnitus patients with subclinical hearing impairment. However, this notion is arbitrary, as no previous study has compared the treatment effect of hearing aids on tinnitus distress in patients with and without clinical hearing impairment. In this article, we investigate whether tinnitus patients with clinical and subclinical hearing impairment differ in terms of tinnitus mitigation after hearing aid fitting. Twenty-seven tinnitus patients with either clinical (n = 13) or subclinical (n = 14) hearing impairment were fitted with hearing aids. All participants filled out the tinnitus functional index (TFI) before hearing aid fitting and after 3 months of hearing aid use. Clinically meaningful reductions in tinnitus distress (-13 TFI points or more) were seen in both groups, and the difference in tinnitus mitigation between tinnitus patients with clinical (mean TFI reduction = 17.0 points) and subclinical hearing impairment (mean TFI reduction = 16.9 points) was not statistically significant (p = 0.991). Group differences on the suspected confounding factors of age, sex, time since tinnitus debut, tinnitus distress (TFI score) at baseline, and treatment adherence were statistically insignificant. In light of this, we argue that clinical hearing impairment is not required to achieve meaningful tinnitus mitigation with hearing aids, and that hearing aids could be recommended for tinnitus patients with subclinical hearing impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Waechter
- Department of Clinical Science Lund, Logopedics, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Olovsson
- Region Västra Götaland, Habilitation & Health, Hearing Organization, 541 30 Skövde, Sweden
| | - Petter Pettersson
- Region Västra Götaland, Habilitation & Health, Hearing Organization, 541 30 Skövde, Sweden
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Lee HY, Jung DJ. Recent Updates on Tinnitus Management. J Audiol Otol 2023; 27:181-192. [PMID: 37872753 PMCID: PMC10603282 DOI: 10.7874/jao.2023.00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this comprehensive review, we discuss recent updates on tinnitus evaluation and treatment. Tinnitus evaluation commences with comprehensive medical history taking and audiological evaluation, which can provide valuable insight into the nature and extent of auditory disturbances. Additionally, tinnitus evaluation includes investigation of psychosomatic comorbidities to determine the intricate interplay between psychological factors and tinnitus perception. Various therapeutic approaches are available to minimize the burden of tinnitus. Cognitive behavioral therapy reshapes negative thought patterns and behaviors that are closely associated with tinnitus-induced distress. Acceptance and commitment therapy fosters mindfulness and value-aligned actions to address emotional effects. Tinnitus retraining therapy combines counseling and sound therapy for habituation. Tailor-made notched music therapy offers customized auditory experiences for symptom relief. Hearing aids and cochlear implants compensate for hearing loss and associated stress. Both neuromodulation and neurofeedback may be potentially useful. The role of pharmacotherapy and dietary supplements remains uncertain. Physiotherapy and head-neck manipulation relieve tinnitus associated with orofacial factors. Virtual reality, smartphone applications, and photobiomodulation may serve as novel therapeutic avenues. Although promising interventions are available, further research is warranted to confirm their effectiveness and long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Yun Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Da Jung Jung
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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Wang X, Guo L, Tian R, Fei Y, Ji J, Diao C, Zuo L, Zeng Y, Guo Q, Chen K, Zheng Y. Hearing Aids Combined With Educational Counseling Versus Educational Counseling Alone for Tinnitus Treatment in Patients With Hearing Loss: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37267442 DOI: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-22-00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The effect of hearing aids (HAs) and educational counseling (EC) or their combination on tinnitus is ambiguous. This study aimed to investigate whether the combined use of HAs and EC is more effective than EC alone on tinnitus relief. METHOD A total of 72 adults with chronic, bothersome tinnitus and coexisting sensorineural hearing loss completed at least 1-month and 3-month follow-up. After receiving EC and HA prescriptions, 21 participants selected to purchase HAs (i.e., the HA + EC group), whereas the remaining 51 refused to use HAs despite recommendations (i.e., the EC group). Tinnitus severity was measured by Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for loudness. The primary outcome measure was THI, and tinnitus relief was defined as a 20-point or more reduction in THI. A generalized linear mixed model was used to confirm that the heterogeneity in baseline characteristics between groups did not interfere with the results. RESULTS The THI, TEQ, and VAS scores decreased significantly after treatments, and both groups yielded a similar trend of reduction. There were no significant differences in the incidence of tinnitus relief and time-to-event curves between the two groups. In addition, the length of follow-up did not affect treatment effectiveness. CONCLUSION There was insufficient evidence to support the superiority of the combined use of HA and EC for tinnitus over EC with no device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunyi Wang
- Hearing Center/Hearing & Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Lanxin Guo
- Hearing Center/Hearing & Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Run Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
- Department of Dermatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Yingping Fei
- Hearing Center/Hearing & Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Jinfeng Ji
- Hearing Center/Hearing & Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Cong Diao
- Hearing Center/Hearing & Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Lin Zuo
- West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Yuxiao Zeng
- West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Qingxin Guo
- West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Ke Chen
- Hearing Center/Hearing & Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
| | - Yun Zheng
- Hearing Center/Hearing & Speech Laboratory, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu
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Santacruz JL, de Kleine E, van Dijk P. Comparison between two self-guided tinnitus pitch matching methods. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1095178. [PMID: 36761182 PMCID: PMC9906993 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1095178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tinnitus pitch matching is a procedure by which the frequency of an external sound is manipulated in such a way that its pitch matches the one of the tinnitus. The correct measure of the tinnitus pitch plays an important role in the effectiveness of any sound-based therapies. To date, this assessment is difficult due to the subjective nature of tinnitus. Some of the existing pitch matching methods present a challenge for both patients and clinicians, and require multiple adjustments of frequency and loudness, which becomes increasingly difficult in case of coexisting hearing loss. In this paper, we present the comparison in terms of reliability between two self-guided pitch matching methods: the method of adjustment (MOA) and the multiple-choice method (MCM). Methods 20 participants with chronic tinnitus and hearing loss underwent the two assessments in two different sessions, 1 week apart. Measures of intraclass correlation (ICC) and difference in octaves (OD) within-method and within-session were obtained. Results Both methods presented good reliability, and the obtained values of ICC and OD suggested that both methods might measure a different aspect of tinnitus. Discussion Our results suggest that a multiple-choice method (MCM) for tinnitus pitch matching is as reliable in a clinical population as more conventional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L. Santacruz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,Graduate School of Medical Sciences (Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Jose L. Santacruz, ✉
| | - Emile de Kleine
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,Graduate School of Medical Sciences (Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Pim van Dijk
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,Graduate School of Medical Sciences (Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Waechter S, Jönsson A. Hearing Aids Mitigate Tinnitus, But Does It Matter if the Patient Receives Amplification in Accordance With Their Hearing Impairment or Not? A Meta-Analysis. Am J Audiol 2022; 31:789-818. [PMID: 35973434 DOI: 10.1044/2022_aja-22-00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of the present meta-analysis is to explore the potential effects of objective verification of hearing aid amplification on tinnitus-related outcomes. METHOD Twenty-seven studies reporting tinnitus outcomes pre and post hearing aid fitting were identified through a systematic literature search. From these studies, data from 1,400 participants were included in the present meta-analysis. Studies were divided into subgroups based on whether they had reported performing objective verification of the participants' hearing aid amplification or not. Outcome measures were tinnitus distress and tinnitus loudness. RESULTS Meta-analyses of all included studies indicated verified amplification to result in significantly enhanced reduction of tinnitus loudness (p < .00001), while the enhanced reduction of tinnitus distress only approached statistical significance (p = .07). However, when excluding an outlier from the subgroup of studies using unverified amplification, individuals receiving verified amplification showed significantly greater reduction of tinnitus distress (p = .02). In addition, analyses of longitudinal effects revealed that the reductions of tinnitus distress decreased over time among individuals receiving unverified amplification but increased over time among individuals receiving verified amplification. CONCLUSIONS The present meta-analysis indicates verified hearing aid amplification to be superior to unverified amplification in terms of reduction of tinnitus loudness and distress. The longitudinal increase of mitigation of tinnitus distress with verified amplification only may reflect improved neural reorganization and/or better adherence to hearing aid use, with verified compared to unverified amplification. Due to the low cost of hearing aid verification compared to the high societal cost of tinnitus, objective verification of hearing aid amplification for tinnitus patients is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Waechter
- Department of Logopedics, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Anders Jönsson
- Department of Logopedics, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Lund University, Sweden
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Jacquemin L, Gilles A, Shekhawat GS. Hearing more to hear less: a scoping review of hearing aids for tinnitus relief. Int J Audiol 2021; 61:887-895. [PMID: 34865589 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2021.2007423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE As tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, hearing aids have been proposed for tinnitus relief in literature for more than 70 years. There is a need for recent literature to be reviewed and guide decision making in tinnitus management. This scoping review aims to provide an update of the available evidence on hearing aids for tinnitus, focussing on the effect of sound amplification or combination devices (i.e. amplification and sound generation within one device). DESIGN Research studies were included if they investigated hearing aids or combination devices for tinnitus and were published after 2011. STUDY SAMPLE A total of 28 primary research studies were selected. RESULTS Positive results of hearing aids in tinnitus patients were shown in 68% of the studies, whereas 14% demonstrated no change in tinnitus distress. However, the quality of the evidence across studies was variable. CONCLUSIONS Scientific support for hearing aids and combination devices for tinnitus relief was found. The standalone effect of sound amplification and the added value of sound generators and adjustment of sound processing strategies needs further investigation. Stronger methodology in future studies is needed to reach consensus on how to optimise hearing solutions in a multidisciplinary approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Jacquemin
- University Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Translational Neurosciences, Antwerp University, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Annick Gilles
- University Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Translational Neurosciences, Antwerp University, Wilrijk, Belgium.,Department of Education, Health & Social Work, University College Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Giriraj Singh Shekhawat
- College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.,Tinnitus Research Initiative, Regensburg, Germany.,Ear Institute, University College London, London, UK
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Searchfield GD, Sanders PJ, Doborjeh Z, Doborjeh M, Boldu R, Sun K, Barde A. A State-of-Art Review of Digital Technologies for the Next Generation of Tinnitus Therapeutics. Front Digit Health 2021; 3:724370. [PMID: 34713191 PMCID: PMC8522011 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.724370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Digital processing has enabled the development of several generations of technology for tinnitus therapy. The first digital generation was comprised of digital Hearing Aids (HAs) and personal digital music players implementing already established sound-based therapies, as well as text based information on the internet. In the second generation Smart-phone applications (apps) alone or in conjunction with HAs resulted in more therapy options for users to select from. The 3rd generation of digital tinnitus technologies began with the emergence of many novel, largely neurophysiologically-inspired, treatment theories that drove development of processing; enabled through HAs, apps, the internet and stand-alone devices. We are now of the cusp of a 4th generation that will incorporate physiological sensors, multiple transducers and AI to personalize therapies. Aim: To review technologies that will enable the next generations of digital therapies for tinnitus. Methods: A "state-of-the-art" review was undertaken to answer the question: what digital technology could be applied to tinnitus therapy in the next 10 years? Google Scholar and PubMed were searched for the 10-year period 2011-2021. The search strategy used the following key words: "tinnitus" and ["HA," "personalized therapy," "AI" (and "methods" or "applications"), "Virtual reality," "Games," "Sensors" and "Transducers"], and "Hearables." Snowballing was used to expand the search from the identified papers. The results of the review were cataloged and organized into themes. Results: This paper identified digital technologies and research on the development of smart therapies for tinnitus. AI methods that could have tinnitus applications are identified and discussed. The potential of personalized treatments and the benefits of being able to gather data in ecologically valid settings are outlined. Conclusions: There is a huge scope for the application of digital technology to tinnitus therapy, but the uncertain mechanisms underpinning tinnitus present a challenge and many posited therapeutic approaches may not be successful. Personalized AI modeling based on biometric measures obtained through various sensor types, and assessments of individual psychology and lifestyles should result in the development of smart therapy platforms for tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant D. Searchfield
- Section of Audiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Eisdell Moore Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Philip J. Sanders
- Section of Audiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Eisdell Moore Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Zohreh Doborjeh
- Section of Audiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Eisdell Moore Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maryam Doborjeh
- School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Roger Boldu
- Augmented Human Laboratory, Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kevin Sun
- Section of Audiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Amit Barde
- Empathic Computing Laboratory, Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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