Cochrane corner: Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus

Brennan-Jones, Christopher G.; Thomas, Ann; Hoare, Derek J.; Sereda, Magdalena

Abstract

This Cochrane Corner features “Sound therapy (using amplification devices or sound generators) for tinnitus” published in 2018. Sereda et al. identified eight clinical trials including 590 participants receiving sound therapy for tinnitus. None of the included studies addressed three main comparisons of the review (comparing hearing aids, sound generators and combination devices with a waiting list control group, placebo or education/information only). One study compared patients fitted with sound generators versus those fitted with hearing aids and found no difference between them in their effects on tinnitus symptom severity. The use of both types of device was associated with a clinically significant reduction in tinnitus symptom severity. Three studies compared hearing aids with a sound generator to hearing aids alone and measured tinnitus symptom severity. The use of both types of device was again associated with a clinically significant reduction in tinnitus symptom severity. This Cochrane review shows that both hearing aids and sound generators may be beneficial for reducing tinnitus severity in some patients, but that there is insufficient evidence at this stage to recommend one device over another, or whether these devices offer any improvement over a placebo treatment.

Citation

Brennan-Jones, C. G., Thomas, A., Hoare, D. J., & Sereda, M. (2019). Cochrane corner: Sound therapy (using amplification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus. International Journal of Audiology, 59(3), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2019.1643503

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 9, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 30, 2019
• Publication Date: Jul 30, 2019
• Deposit Date: Aug 12, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 31, 2020
• Journal: International Journal of Audiology
• Print ISSN: 1499-2027
• Electronic ISSN: 1708-8186
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 59
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 1-5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2019.1643503
• Keywords: Speech and Hearing; Linguistics and Language; Language and Linguistics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2417989
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2019.1643503
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=iija20; Received: 2019-04-04; Revised: 2019-07-03; Accepted: 2019-07-09; Published: 2019-07-30
• Contract Date: Aug 12, 2019