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Auditory Mirror Therapy for Tinnitus: A Pilot Study
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|January 26, 2022
Summary
Auditory mirror therapy (AMT) significantly reduced tinnitus handicap and awareness in a small study. This novel approach uses sound swapping to retrain the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Sensory integration
Background:
- Tinnitus, a phantom sound perception, shares similarities with phantom limb pain, potentially stemming from sensory deprivation.
- Multisensory integration prediction errors, demonstrated in phantom pain with mirror box therapy, can decrease phantom percepts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a novel auditory mirror therapy (AMT) device in reducing tinnitus.
- AMT involves swapping sounds between the left and right ear canals to alter auditory input.
Main Methods:
- An uncontrolled trial involving twenty participants with chronic tinnitus.
- Participants utilized a modified ear defender device for two weeks, which cross-wired sound input.
- Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and other questionnaires assessed symptoms pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- A significant reduction in tinnitus handicap, as measured by the THI, was observed post-intervention.
- Participant awareness of tinnitus symptoms also significantly decreased following the AMT treatment.
Conclusions:
- Auditory mirror therapy shows promise in retraining phantom percepts and alleviating tinnitus handicap.
- Further research is warranted to explore the potential of using prediction error induction in the audiovisual system for tinnitus management.
