Abstract
Band-noise masker treatment was used in 101 patients with tinnitus who visited the otolaryngologic clinic of Nippon Medical School Hospital, and the degree of tinnitus was compared before and after treatment.The tinnitus masker was designed so that a band noise ranging from 250 to 5000Hz was divided into 54 sections. The band noise masker was fitted to the tinnitus frequency obtained by the pitch match method and tinnitus was measured before and after masker treatment.1) All patients were relieved of tinnitus while wearing the tinnitus masker, and the tinnitus was completely supressed or diminished (after effect) in 71% for 30min. to several months. 2) The after effect of masking was better in patients whose tinnitus frequencies were within in the frequency range of the band noise masker. 3) There was no correlation between the loudness of tinnitus and the after effect of masking. Even in patients with severe tinnitus of more than 20dB, the after effect of the tinnitus masker was obtained. 4) Tinnitus frequency showed no change after 2hr of masking. 5) In patients whose tinnitus diminished after masker treatment, the loudness balance method with the contralateral ear indicated the change in tinnitus loudness better than that with the ipsilateral ear or with the masking method. 6) The after effect of the masker was more frequently seen in patients whose tinnitogram showed a convergence type or congruence type than in patients who showed other types of tinnitogram.
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