PP1401 - Relationship of Tinnitus Quality and Selection of Sound Therapy

Abstract: Individuals with tinnitus describe a variety of different auditory perceptions including ringing, humming, hissing, roaring, cicadas, etc.  Clinical observations suggest selection of sound therapy (e.g., broadband noise vs. fractal tones) may depend in part on the quality of a person's tinnitus.  However, there are no published studies to date validating these anecdotal reports.  The current study examined pre-existing data collected from patients with tinnitus and found a significant association between tinnitus quality and selection of sound therapy.  Possible contributing factors are discussed as is the need for additional research to further investigate this relationship.

Summary: Individuals with tinnitus describe a variety of different auditory perceptions including ringing, humming, hissing, roaring, cicadas, etc.  Clinical observations suggest selection of sound therapy (e.g., broadband noise vs. fractal tones) may depend in part on the quality of a person’s tinnitus.  However, there are no published studies to date validating these anecdotal reports.  One relevant review article by Searchfield and colleagues (2017) addressed the need for “personalization of tinnitus sound therapy.”  A limitation of this paper is that “the review did not identify any comprehensive guidelines for optimal sound therapy selection" (p. 6).  The authors wrote, “many of the sound therapies identified could be effective when selected for the right patients.”  From a clinical standpoint, elucidating relevant parameters for predicting ideal or “right” patients would be helpful.  In so doing, practicing audiologists may save valuable time and optimize success when guiding patients with tinnitus through the process of selecting an appropriate sound therapy approach.
The current study examined pre-existing data collected from patients with tinnitus seen in a university clinic.  The Institutional Review Board determined the study did not meet the criteria for human subject research because the data were de-identified.  Data were sorted and analyzed in Excel.  A chi-square analysis and post hoc tests were conducted to evaluate the significance of any existing relationships.
Statistical analyses revealed a significant association between tinnitus quality and selection of sound therapy.  Post hoc testing identified possible contributing factors that approached significance after Bonferroni correction.  Specifically, patients reporting the perception of cicadas were less likely to select broadband noise for sound therapy.  Patients with “complex” tinnitus (i.e., more than one percept) were more likely than not to select some form of sound therapy.  Possible explanations for the findings are discussed.  In addition, the need for additional research to further investigate the relationship between tinnitus quality and selection of sound therapy is addressed. 
Findings help fill the gap in the literature regarding factors that may help to guide the management plan for patients with tinnitus.  The way in which patients describe the quality of their tinnitus appears to be associated with selection of sound therapy.  Individual differences in sound therapy preference likely do exist and should be considered.  Still, findings have clinical significance and can be helpful to audiologists working with tinnitus patients.
Searchfield, G., Durai, M., Linford, T.  (2017).  A State-of-the-Art Review: Personalization of Tinnitus Sound Therapy Front. Psychol, Volume 8, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.0159