Enriched Acoustic Environment as a customized treatment for tinnitus: A non-controlled longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Tinnitus is a common hearing disorder lacking a definitive cure.
• Current management often involves counseling and sound therapy to alleviate symptoms.
• The effectiveness of sound therapy is influenced by sound type and exposure duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a personalized sound therapy called Enriched Acoustic Environment (EAE).
• To assess the efficacy of EAE in reducing tinnitus-related distress.
• To compare the effectiveness of continuous versus sequential sound stimuli within EAE.

Main Methods:

• EAE utilizes personalized sound spectra, delivered either continuously or sequentially.
• The study included 137 participants diagnosed with tinnitus.
• Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) was used to quantify distress relief.

Main Results:

• 90% of participants experienced clinically relevant and statistically significant relief from tinnitus distress.
• The overall mean reduction in THI scores was 24.3 points.
• Participants receiving sequential sound stimuli (31%) showed greater distress relief (29.4 THI points) than those with continuous sound (69%).

Conclusions:

• Enriched Acoustic Environment (EAE) demonstrates significant efficacy in managing tinnitus-related distress.
• Sequential sound stimulation within EAE is more effective than continuous sound stimulation.
• Personalized sound therapy offers a promising approach for tinnitus management.