Consensus Statements on Tinnitus Treatment: A Delphi Study by the Korean Tinnitus Study Group

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neurology
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Tinnitus is a complex condition with varied underlying mechanisms.
• Standardized treatment guidelines are needed for both patients and clinicians.
• Expert consensus is crucial for developing effective tinnitus management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a clinical consensus on tinnitus treatment using a modified Delphi study.
• To gather and analyze expert opinions on various tinnitus treatment modalities.

Main Methods:

• A two-round modified Delphi survey was administered to professional experts.
• Experts rated agreement on statements regarding tinnitus treatment on a 1-9 scale.
• Consensus was defined by specific thresholds of agreement and disagreement, with reliability measures including content validity ratio and Kendall's coefficient of concordance.

Main Results:

• Consensus was achieved on 19 out of 31 statements.
• High consensus was observed for treatment candidates, tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and auditory rehabilitation.
• Limited consensus was reached for medication and neuromodulation treatments, with mixed agreement on miscellaneous treatments.

Conclusions:

• Expert consensus was high for treatment candidates, tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and auditory rehabilitation.
• The study provides valuable, practical information for clinicians in treating tinnitus.
• Findings can inform the development of standardized clinical guidelines for tinnitus management.