Clinical Efficacy of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy Based on Tinnitus Questionnaire Score and Visual Analogue Scale Score in Patients with Subjective Tinnitus

Özet

Objective: Tinnitus is the annoying sensation of soundperception without acoustic stimulus. Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is the habituation therapy used forthe management of chronic subjective tinnitus. The objective of the study is to describe TRT and to evaluateits efficacy in patients with subjective tinnitus.Methods: In total, 58 patients with tinnitus who didnot respond to medications were enrolled in the TRTprogram. TRT included counseling as described in theneurophysiological model of tinnitus and sound therapy(aided or unaided) for six months. The tinnitus severitygrade (TSG) 1–5, based on a validated tinnitus questionnaire score (TQS), and the visual analogue scale(VAS) score were documented before and after therapy.Results: Before TRT, 53 patients (91.3%) exhibitedTSG 3–5, and the average VAS score was 6.7±2.1. After TRT for two months, 49 patients (84.4%) showedTSG 1–3, and the average VAS score was 3.2±2.4.After six months of TRT, most of the patients foundremarkable improvement in the symptoms, and 51patients (87.9%) exhibited TSG 1–2, and the averageVAS score was 2.1±2.6. Statistically significant difference was found in TSG and VAS score before andafter TRT. Statistically significant correlation was observed between TSG and VAS score.Conclusion: TRT is an useful approach for amelioration of tinnitus. TQS is a very effective, cheap, andeasy method to help otologists to grade the patients asper the severity of symptoms.