[Reducing tinnitus intensity : Pilot study to attenuate tonal tinnitus using individually spectrally optimized near-threshold noise].
HNO. 2020 Nov 13;:
Authors: Schilling A, Krauss P, Hannemann R, Schulze H, Tziridis K
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Around 15% of the general population is affected by tinnitus, but no real cure exists despite intensive research. Based on our recent causal model for tinnitus development, we here test a new treatment aimed at counteracting the perception. This treatment is based on the stochastic resonance phenomenon at specific auditory system synapses that is induced by externally presented near-threshold noise.
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study will investigate whether individually spectrally adapted noise can successfully reduce chronic tonal/narrow-band tinnitus during stimulation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hearing loss (HL) as well as tinnitus pitch (TP) and loudness (TL) were audiometrically measured in 22 adults (46.6±16.3 years; 4 women) with tinnitus. Based on these measurements, up to eight different noise stimuli with five intensities (-20 to +20 dB SL) were generated. These were presented for 40 s each via audiologic headphones in a soundproof chamber. After each presentation, the change in TL was rated on a five-level scale (-2 to +2).
RESULTS: We found patients (n = 6) without any improvement in their TL perception as well as patients with improvement (n = 16), where stimulation around the TP was most effective. The groups differed in post-hoc analysis of their audiograms: the effectiveness of our new therapeutic strategy obviously depends on the individual HL, and was most effective in normal-hearing tinnitus patients and those with mild HL.
CONCLUSION: Subjective TL could be reduced in 16 out of 22 patients during stimulation. For a possible success of a future therapy, the HL seems to be of relevance.
PMID: 33185745 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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