Efficacy and factors influencing outcomes of customized music therapy combined with a follow-up system in chronic tinnitus patients

Analysis of clinical characteristics and predictive model for effective treatment of tinnitus in patients with transient compound sound therapy

Purpose

This study explored the clinical characteristics of patients with tinnitus who responded to sound therapy and established a predictive model to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy according to the clinical characteristics.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on 991 subjective tinnitus patients who received compound sound therapy in the Department of Otolaryngology of the local hospital from November 2019 to January 2022.

Results

We found that tinnitus patients with different therapeutic effects had significant differences in the tinnitus side (p = 0.007), tone loudness distortion feedback test (FBT) (p = 0.000), residual inhibition test (RIT) (p = 0.000), tinnitus frequency (p = 0.012) and sensation level (p = 0.023). The corresponding variables were screened by univariate logistic regression, and the selected variables were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. The results showed that FBT (p = 0.003), RIT (p = 0.000) and tinnitus frequency (p = 0.029) were independent risk factors affecting the efficacy of compound sound therapy. A predictive model and nomogram for the efficacy of compound sound therapy for tinnitus were constructed based on independent risk factors. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model constructed in this study was 0.766 (95% CI = 0.725-0.807), indicating a certain prediction ability. The calibration curve revealed that the predicted results were in good agreement with the actual results.

Conclusion

The model can predict the prognosis of tinnitus in patients receiving compound sound therapy and help otolaryngologists make the best clinical decisions regarding tinnitus treatment.

Investigating the effectiveness of music therapy combined with binaural beats on chronic tinnitus: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Binaural beat stimulation (BBS) involve presenting two sinusoidal waves with specific frequency differences to induce neural changes in the brain, often used for mental state induction and symptom reduction. However, there are limited studies on its effectiveness for tinnitus. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of combining binaural beats with music containing nature sounds for chronic tinnitus.

METHODS

A total of 30 men, aged 45.87 on average (SD = 8.09), who had chronic tinnitus and symmetrical mild to moderate hearing loss, were included in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: MT group (Music therapy; n = 15), which received relaxing music containing the sound of sea waves, and MT + BBS group (Music therapy plus binaural beats; n = 15), which received the same music combined with alpha frequency (8 Hz) binaural beats. The therapy sessions were conducted twice a day for 15 min, over a period of 4 weeks. Outcome measures, including the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the pitch and loudness of tinnitus were administered before, immediately after, and during the three-month follow-up period.

RESULTS

The findings revealed improvements in loudness and annoyance VAS, as well as THI total and all subscale scores in both groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, TFI total score showed improvement in both groups (MT: p = 0.001; MT + BBS: p < 0.001) except for the sense of control subscale in both groups and the cognitive subscale in the MT group after the treatment and during the three-month follow-up period. Furthermore, both groups exhibited a decrease in scores for both subscales of HADS. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurement outcomes (p > 0.05), except for the emotional subscale scores of TFI (p = 0.049) and the functional subscale scores of THI (p = 0.034). In other words, during the follow-up period, the MT + BBS group exhibited lower scores in these two subscales compared to the MT group.

CONCLUSION

Although our study failed to demonstrate the superiority of combining binaural beats with music, both groups experienced significant improvements. This suggest that there are potential benefits to be gained from these types of stimuli. Given the sustained effect of both methods and the even greater improvements in follow-up observed in the binaural beats group for some scales, it seems that the changes in neural response and brain waves caused by our stimulations are persistent. This necessitates further research involving brain mapping, especially with longer follow-up durations.

The effect of local dexamethasone on stapedotomy surgery outcomes in patients with otosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Some studies have shown a positive effect of systemic corticosteroid on hearing results after stapedotomy, but its side effects can limit its routine administration.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of local dexamethasone on the results of stapedotomy surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty two patients undergone stapedotomy surgery for otosclerosis involved. In the case group after stapedotomy we fulfilled the middle ear with dexamethasone and then the placement of the prosthesis was done. In the control group after stapedotomy we did not use dexamethasone in the middle ear.

RESULTS

Gender, age, nausea, vomiting, postoperative vertigo and nystagmus did not significantly differ between the groups. A significant difference was observed in tinnitus rate between two groups. In the case group ABG decrease was higher and bone conduction thresholds improved at frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 three months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Since local dexamethasone had a positive effect on the results of stapedotomy surgery, it can be used instead of systemic corticosteroids to reduce the side effects and increasing surgery's success rate.

SIGNIFICANCE

If local dexamethasone had a positive influence on the results of stapedotomy surgery, it can be used instead of systemic corticosteroids to reduce the side effects and increasing surgery's success rate.