Interrupted noise as a tinnitus masker

Abstract

One aspect of tinnitus reasearch deals with tinnitus masking and the phenomenon of residual inhibition. This paper compares residual inhibition time produced by 60 s of interrupted or continuous white noise masking. Six tinnitus subjects participated in the first part of the study. The masking signal was presented at 10 dB SL. Results indicate no significant difference in residual inhibition time resulting from 2, 10, 40 PPS or continuous white noise. In the second part of the study, annoyance levels for interrupted white noise with 2, 4, 10, 20, and 40 PPS and continuous white noise presented 20, 40, and 60 dB SL were compared. The same tinnitus subjects and six normal hearing subjects participated. Subjects adjusted the interrupted noise to be equally annoying as the continuous noise. Results indicate that the interrupted noise was more annoying for both groups. Results also show significant differences in the equal annoyance levels as a function of interruption rate for both groups. In conclusion, interrupted noise as a tinnitus masker does not seem to be promising. [Work supported by NIHR.]