Evaluation of severe tinnitus patients after treatment by TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy)

• Published in: AUDIOLOGY JAPAN Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 162 - 166
• Main Authors: Ito, Mari, Soma, Keiko, Kohama, Yukie, Sakamoto, Koji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Audiological Society 2006
• ISSN: 0303-8106; 1883-7301
• DOI: 10.4295/audiology.49.162

Seventy-one patients (33 male, 38 female) treated who complained of severe tinnitus had been treated in the department of Otolaryngology of Nippon Koukan Hospital and Koukan Clinic during the 1-year period, from April 2004. Thirty-seven patients(19 male, 18 female) had been treated by TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy) with a TCI (Tinnitus Control Instrument) and followed up for 6 months after treatment. We evaluated recovery from the tinnitus by questionnire. The THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) and VAS (Visual Analoque Scale) improved after treatment by TRT. We devided all cases into 2 groups, Hearing Gap (+) group and Hearing Gap (-) group, in whether there was a more than 10dB hearing gap between the right ear and the left ear or not. Both THI and VAS test improved in the Hearing Gap (-) group (25 cases) after 1 month of tratment, whereas the Hearing Gap (+) group (12 cases) improved after 6 months of treatment. These results suggest that it takes a long time forthe Hearing Gap (+) group to improve.