Comparison of tinnitus therapy methods according to Tinnitus frequency and hearing loss pattern

Tinnitus is an uncomfortable symptom felt in the ear or in the head. In this study, music therapy, masking therapy and TRT were applied to treat tinnitus that affects the social life of individuals. The patients were evaluated pre-therapy psychosomatic and psychoacute. Based on the data acquired from the psychoacoustic assessment, the patients were categorized based on their respective tinnitus frequencies. The primary objective revolves around assessing the efficacy of these various therapeutic approaches in alignment with the specific tinnitus frequency and hearing impairment patterns exhibited by each patient. This approach seeks to ascertain the most suitable treatment for individuals within distinct frequency and hearing loss categories, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions. Fifty-two patients, 22 female and 30 male, aged between 18-65 years, who had tinnitus complaints for at least 6 months and had no additional disease, were included in the study. Before the therapy, the patients underwent audiological evaluation with TEA and BDI. Patients grouped as low-medium and medium-high according to tinnitus frequency received 6 months of therapy. Acoustic recordings with narrow band noise, specially integrated to the tinnitus frequency, with the music of their choice, were given to the patients who underwent music therapy. Regular sessions were arranged for patients receiving masking therapy, and acoustic stimuli were listened to individually. On the other hand, those who received TRT received counseling and individually adjusted acoustic therapy together. In the evaluations made after the therapy, a significant decrease was observed in the tinnitus perceptions of the patients. When patients were evaluated for psychosomatic evaluation after therapy, a decrease was observed in TEA scores, but this decrease was not statistically significant (p=0.238, p=0.212; p<0.05). Following the implementation of therapy, a psychoacoustic evaluation was conducted, revealing a reduction in the severity of patients' tinnitus and MMS (Minimum Masking Level). However, it's noteworthy that this observed decrease did not attain statistical significance. This suggests that while there was a noticeable improvement in tinnitus severity and MMS scores, further investigation and a potentially larger sample size might be necessary to establish a statistically significant correlation between the therapy and the observed outcomes. (p=0.634, p=0.740; p<0.05). When grouped as normal-mild, moderate and severe-profound according to the type of hearing loss, all of the patients benefited from the therapies (p=0.893, p=0.075, p=0.242; p<0.05). As a result, music therapy, masking therapy and TRT show benefits regardless of tinnitus frequency and hearing loss.