Effects of Tinnitus Duration and Concomitant Hearing Loss on the Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Outcomes

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesZZSeveral reports indicated that tinnitus treatment was influ enced by several factors including age of patients, concomitant hearing loss, onset and duration of tinnitus, etc. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the duration of tinnitus and the degree of hearing loss on the treatment outcomes. Subjects and MethodZZSeventy-two subjects with tinnitus were divided into several groups according to the duration of tinnitus and the degree of hearing loss. All subjects were treated by cognitive-behavioral treatment program in tinnitus clinic. Treatment effects were studied by Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which were used to measure the loudness, awareness, and annoyance of tinnitus. ResultsZZTHI and VAS scores were decreased significantly after the treatment. Tinnitus of 12 months or shorter duration showed greater improvement than those cases of longer than 12 months. The lower degree of hearing loss also showed greater improvement when compared with the greater degree of hearing loss. ConclusionZZTinnitus of shorter duration and milder hearing loss showed better prognosis: the results of this study may help in treatment counseling for tinnitus patients.