METHODS: The study divided 34 participants into unimodal and bimodal groups with 17 subjects in each. The bimodal group received customized acoustic stimulation along with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tAVNS) and the unimodal group received customized acoustic stimulation along with tAVNS as a sham. The treatment sessions in both groups were 6 sessions and each session lasted for 20 min. The participants were evaluated before, immediately after, and one month after the completion of the intervention sessions, using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and the mismatch negativity (MMN) test.
RESULTS: After the intervention sessions, the results indicated a statistically significant decrease in THI scores and a significant increase in the MMN amplitude in the bimodal group compared to the unimodal group. No significant changes in MMN latency were observed between the two groups. These changes were stable in the one-month follow-up visit.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that bimodal stimulation is a better intervention option compared to unimodal stimulation. Bimodal stimulation may be an effective intervention method for some subjects with tinnitus, especially people with hearing loss who have tonal tinnitus.
方法:该研究将34名参与者分为单峰和双峰组,每组17名受试者。双峰组接受定制的声刺激以及经皮耳迷走神经刺激(tAVNS),单峰组接受定制的声刺激以及tAVNS作为假手术。两组治疗疗程均为6次,每次治疗持续20min。之前对参与者进行了评估,紧接着,干预会议结束后一个月,使用耳鸣障碍量表(THI)问卷和失配阴性(MMN)测试。
结果:在干预会议之后,结果表明,与单峰组相比,双峰组的THI评分显著降低,MMN波幅显著增加.两组间MMN潜伏期无明显变化。这些变化在一个月的随访中保持稳定。
结论:我们的研究表明,与单峰刺激相比,双峰刺激是更好的干预选择。双峰刺激可能是一些耳鸣患者的有效干预方法,尤其是有音调性耳鸣的听力损失者。