Abstract
Objective
Notched music therapy has been suggested to be effective for relieving tinnitus. We
have developed a smartphone application using tailor-made notched music for tinnitus
patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of this smartphone application on
reducing tinnitus. In addition, we investigated the predictive factors for tinnitus
treatment outcome using this smartphone application.
Methods
A total of 26 patients who were chronically distressed by tinnitus with a ≥18 Tinnitus
Handicap Inventory (THI) score were recruited from March 2013 to March 2015 (National
Clinical Trial (NCT) Identifier Number 01663467). Patients were instructed to listen
to tailor-made notched music through our smartphone application for 30–60 min per day and were prescribed Ginkgo biloba for 3 months. Treatment outcome was
evaluated using the THI, a visual analogue scale that measures the effects of tinnitus
in terms of loudness, noticeable time, annoyance, and disruption of daily life. Demographic
data, including age, sex, duration of tinnitus, and pre-treatment scores on questionnaires
such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI),
and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were compared between the effective
and non-effective groups according to the differences between their pre- and post-treatment
THI scores.
Results
Smartphone application-delivered notched music therapy and Ginko combined treatment
improved the THI score from 33.9 ± 18.9 to 23.1 ± 15.2; the effect was particularly marked for the emotional score of the THI. Improvement
in the THI score was positively correlated with the initial THI score (P = 0.001, adjusted estimated value = 0.49, 95% confidence interval = 0.25–0.73).
Conclusion
Chronic tinnitus patients who underwent smartphone application-delivered notched music
therapy and Ginko combined treatment showed improved THI scores, particularly the
emotional score of the THI. A smartphone application-delivered therapy and Ginko combined
treatment may be more effective in tinnitus patients who have had a higher initial
THI.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 12, 2016
Accepted:
November 15,
2016
Received:
September 13,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
