Tailor-Made Notched Music Training for Tinnitus
Author Information
Author(s): Teismann Henning, Okamoto Hidehiko, Pantev Christo
Primary Institution: Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
Hypothesis
Does tailor-made notched music training (TMNMT) effectively reduce tinnitus loudness and distress in patients with different tinnitus frequencies?
Conclusion
Short and intensive TMNMT significantly reduced tinnitus loudness and distress in patients with tinnitus frequencies ≤8 kHz, but not in those with frequencies >8 kHz.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with tinnitus frequencies ≤8 kHz showed significant reductions in tinnitus loudness and distress after TMNMT.
- Effects were not observed in patients with tinnitus frequencies >8 kHz.
- Neurophysiological changes were measurable in non-primary auditory cortical areas.
Takeaway
Listening to special music that is adjusted to match the sound of tinnitus can help some people feel better, but it only works for certain types of tinnitus.
Methodology
The study involved 20 patients who underwent 5 days of TMNMT, with evaluations of tinnitus loudness and distress before, immediately after, and at intervals after the training.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to lack of a control group and the nature of self-reported measures.
Limitations
The effects of TMNMT were not persistent, and the study did not include patients with severe hearing loss.
Participant Demographics
24 adult patients with chronic tonal tinnitus, aged 32.2±8.2 years for ≤8 kHz group and 34.4±9.1 years for >8 kHz group.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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