Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Tinnitus is burdensome to many patients. Sound amplification and masking therapy has been useful for some patients.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients treated for tinnitus at a single academic medical center over a 12-month period. Information on treatment course and outcomes was collected and analyzed. Statistical comparisons were made using a t-test for paired means.
RESULTS: In 2021, 141 patients were evaluated for tinnitus sound amplification and masking therapy at our medical center. Average age at presentation was 55.2. Average onset was 6-7 years before presentation. Tinnitus perception was decreased in patients who received a trial of amplification and masking therapy, from 9.2 out of 20 at baseline to 6.1 with amplification and 3.2 with amplification and masking at the initial visit. The difference in each of these values is statistically significant. Nine patients recorded a Tinnitus Handicap Index (THI), which measures tinnitus burden, before and after being treated with amplification and masking therapy. These nine patients saw a decrease in THI from 39.6/100 to 19.1/100, which was also statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: This study has several limitations. Our data are from a single clinic over one year with limited follow up information, and it is a retrospective study.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed benefit in sound amplification and masking therapy for the treatment of tinnitus. Patients treated with amplification and masking therapy showed a statistically significant decrease in perception of their tinnitus during their in-office demonstration. Long term data are still needed. Our data contribute to the broader discussion on the proper treatment course of tinnitus and the most effective measures.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients treated for tinnitus at a single academic medical center over a 12-month period. Information on treatment course and outcomes was collected and analyzed. Statistical comparisons were made using a t-test for paired means.
RESULTS: In 2021, 141 patients were evaluated for tinnitus sound amplification and masking therapy at our medical center. Average age at presentation was 55.2. Average onset was 6-7 years before presentation. Tinnitus perception was decreased in patients who received a trial of amplification and masking therapy, from 9.2 out of 20 at baseline to 6.1 with amplification and 3.2 with amplification and masking at the initial visit. The difference in each of these values is statistically significant. Nine patients recorded a Tinnitus Handicap Index (THI), which measures tinnitus burden, before and after being treated with amplification and masking therapy. These nine patients saw a decrease in THI from 39.6/100 to 19.1/100, which was also statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: This study has several limitations. Our data are from a single clinic over one year with limited follow up information, and it is a retrospective study.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed benefit in sound amplification and masking therapy for the treatment of tinnitus. Patients treated with amplification and masking therapy showed a statistically significant decrease in perception of their tinnitus during their in-office demonstration. Long term data are still needed. Our data contribute to the broader discussion on the proper treatment course of tinnitus and the most effective measures.
摘要：
背景：耳鸣是许多患者的负担。声音放大和掩蔽治疗对一些患者是有用的。
方法：回顾性图表回顾在一个学术医疗中心治疗耳鸣12个月的患者。收集并分析有关治疗过程和结果的信息。使用配对均值的t检验进行统计比较。
结果：2021年，在我们的医疗中心对141名患者进行了耳鸣声音放大和掩蔽治疗评估。就诊时的平均年龄为55.2岁。平均发病前6-7年。接受放大和掩蔽治疗试验的患者耳鸣感知降低，从基线时的20分中的9.2分到初次访视时的6.1次扩增和3.2次扩增和掩蔽。这些值中的每一个的差异在统计学上是显著的。9名患者记录了耳鸣障碍指数（THI），测量耳鸣负担，在进行扩增和掩蔽治疗之前和之后。这9名患者的THI从39.6/100降至19.1/100，这也具有统计学意义。
结论：本研究有几个局限性。我们的数据来自一个诊所超过一年的随访信息有限，这是一项回顾性研究。
结论：我们的数据显示，声音放大和掩蔽治疗对耳鸣的治疗有益。在办公室演示期间，接受放大和掩蔽疗法治疗的患者对耳鸣的感知在统计学上显着降低。仍然需要长期数据。我们的数据有助于有关耳鸣的正确治疗过程和最有效措施的更广泛讨论。
方法：回顾性图表回顾在一个学术医疗中心治疗耳鸣12个月的患者。收集并分析有关治疗过程和结果的信息。使用配对均值的t检验进行统计比较。
结果：2021年，在我们的医疗中心对141名患者进行了耳鸣声音放大和掩蔽治疗评估。就诊时的平均年龄为55.2岁。平均发病前6-7年。接受放大和掩蔽治疗试验的患者耳鸣感知降低，从基线时的20分中的9.2分到初次访视时的6.1次扩增和3.2次扩增和掩蔽。这些值中的每一个的差异在统计学上是显著的。9名患者记录了耳鸣障碍指数（THI），测量耳鸣负担，在进行扩增和掩蔽治疗之前和之后。这9名患者的THI从39.6/100降至19.1/100，这也具有统计学意义。
结论：本研究有几个局限性。我们的数据来自一个诊所超过一年的随访信息有限，这是一项回顾性研究。
结论：我们的数据显示，声音放大和掩蔽治疗对耳鸣的治疗有益。在办公室演示期间，接受放大和掩蔽疗法治疗的患者对耳鸣的感知在统计学上显着降低。仍然需要长期数据。我们的数据有助于有关耳鸣的正确治疗过程和最有效措施的更广泛讨论。
