Sound Therapy Research Articles

Tinnitus treatment by vagus nerve stimulation: A systematic review.

Tinnitus is a phantom sensation of sound, which can have a negative impact on quality of life of those affected. No curative treatments are currently known. Neuromodulation by vagus nerve stimulation has emerged as a new treatment option for tinnitus, though till date the effectiveness remains unclear. Therefore, we aim to review the effect of vagus nerve stimulation on tinnitus distress and tinnitus symptom severity in patients with chronic tinnitus. We searched Pubmed, Embase and the Cochrane Library systematically for RCTs, observational studies and case studies on the effect of VNS treatment for tinnitus on October 29, 2019. Studies including adult patients with subjective tinnitus, comparing transcutaneous or implantable VNS to placebo or no treatment or before and after application of VNS treatment on tinnitus distress and tinnitus symptom severity measured with a validated questionnaire were eligible. The risk of bias was assessed with the appropriate tool for each type of study. Our search identified 9 primary studies of which 2 RCTs, 5 cohort studies and 2 case series or reports. 5 studies used transcutaneous VNS treatment and 4 used implanted VNS treatment. 6 studies combined VNS treatment with sound therapy. There was a serious risk of bias in all studies, especially on confounding. Most studies reported a small decrease in tinnitus distress or tinnitus symptom severity. Due to methodological limitations and low reporting quality of the included studies, the effect of VNS on tinnitus remains unclear. To draw conclusions for which patient population and to what extent (t)VNS is beneficial in the treatment of tinnitus, a randomised controlled trial should be considered.

Cortical Thickness Alterations in Patients With Tinnitus Before and After Sound Therapy: A Surface-Based Morphometry Study.

This study aimed to explore brain surface-based morphometry cortical thickness changes in patients with idiopathic tinnitus before and after 24 weeks of sound therapy. In this prospective observational study, we recruited 33 tinnitus patients who had undergone 24 weeks of sound therapy and 26 matched healthy controls. For the two groups of subjects, a 3D-BRAVO pulse sequence was acquired both at baseline and at the 24th week. Structural image data preprocessing was performed using the DPABISurf toolbox. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was assessed to determine the severity of tinnitus before and after treatment. Two-way mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used in the statistical analysis. Student–Newman–Keuls (SNK) tests were used in the post hoc analysis. Significantly lower cortical thickness was found in the left somatosensory and motor cortex (SMC), left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and right orbital and polar frontal cortex (OPFC) of the participants in the tinnitus group at baseline than in the participants in the HC group at baseline and after 24 weeks; in the tinnitus group, significantly higher cortical thickness was found after the 24 weeks sound therapy in comparison to the baseline in the left SMC, bilateral superior parietal cortex (SPC), left inferior parietal cortex (IPC), left PCC, and right OPFC. In the HC group, no statistically significant difference in cortical thickness was found after the 24 weeks treatment in comparison to the baseline in the bilateral SMC, bilateral SPC, left IPC, left PCC, or right OPFC. The changes in cortical thickness before and after sound therapy can provide certain reference values for clinical tinnitus treatment. These brain regions could serve as potential targets for neuroimaging.

Clinical application of sound therapy in chronic subjective tinnitus

Chronic subjective tinnitus is an auditory phantom phenomenon perceived by patients only, with no external sound source. It's a common disease and it lacks effective treatments. Sound therapy is an optional treatment which proved to reduce the tinnitus loudness and the negative effects on life. After decades of development, a wide variety of acoustic therapies have been produced, but seldom are likely to thoroughly cure tinnitus. In recent years, some new acoustic treatments based on the hypothesis of mechanisms of tinnitus, are expected to alleviate or even eliminate tinnitus.

The Role of Sound Therapies in Tinnitus Care

The Role of Sound Therapies in Tinnitus Care

COVID-19 associated anxiety enhances tinnitus.

To investigate if the anxiety associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a promoting factor to tinnitus. A retrospective research design collected from 188 tinnitus patients, was used to compare the clinical characteristics of tinnitus between the patients in 2020 under pandemic pressure and those from the matching period in 2019. While anxiety was quantified using the Zung’s Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), tinnitus severity was evaluated using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire and the test of tinnitus loudness (TL). The assessments were repeated after the sound therapy plus educational counselling (STEC) for 38 patients in 2020 and 58 patients in 2019 and compared with EC alone therapy for 42 patients in 2020 and 17 patients in 2019. A large increase in anxiety was evident in 2020 in both case rate and SAS. The treatment of both methods was less effective in 2020. SAS, THI and TL were all deteriorated after the EC alone treatment in 2020, while an improvement was seen in 2019. This suggests that EC alone could not counteract the stress by COVID-19 at all, and the stress, if not managed well, can significantly increase the severity of tinnitus and associated anxiety. By using the EC subgroup in virtual control, we conclude that anxiety can serve as a promoting factor to tinnitus. We believe that this is the first study report that confirm the causative/promotive role of anxiety on tinnitus during COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation and Management of Severe Tinnitus: An Evidence-Based Case Report

PurposeTinnitus is reported by millions of Americans and is significantly problematic for many people. Commonly, individuals suffering from tinnitus report disturbances in the areas of sleep, hearing, emotional well-being, and so forth. This case report presents the evaluation and treatment of an adult female with severe tinnitus and multiple relevant comorbidities. This case includes the onset, evaluation, and management of significantly bothersome tinnitus in a 60-year-old woman. Tinnitus was first reported after she was treated with an Epley maneuver intended to resolve benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. An evaluation of tinnitus (including a comprehensive audiometric evaluation, an assessment of the impact of tinnitus on her life, and psychoacoustic measures of tinnitus perception) was completed. The tinnitus was reported to have a severely negative impact on her overall health, mental state, and quality of life.MethodThis patient opted to manage her tinnitus with a combination of pharmaceuticals, sound therapy, and education (the latter two in the form of tinnitus retraining therapy).ResultsThe course of her active treatment spanned approximately 18 months, and, at the completion of her treatment, she demonstrated significant improvements in all areas of her life that had been impacted by tinnitus. She has become an active advocate for tinnitus management and has made herself available as a resource for other individuals who are struggling to cope with intrusive tinnitus.ConclusionTinnitus retraining therapy is a treatment option that may significantly improve the quality of life of individuals suffering from severely bothersome tinnitus.

Sound Therapy May Ease Tinnitus for Cochlear Implant Users

Sound Therapy May Ease Tinnitus for Cochlear Implant Users

PHARMACEUTICAL AND NONPHARMACEUTICAL USE OF MUSIC AND AL-QURAN THERAPY IN PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF PANDEMICS (COVID-19): A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical of Music and al Quran theraphy are capable of are helping humans to meditate or concentrate and free humans from a perplexing life. Through this harmonious characteristic, music and al Quran theraphy touches every particle of existence. Several approaches to music therapy assume that the human body acts as the source of the voice and its organs are the musical instruments. Hence, healing through music uses the frequency or the combination of the voice and music or the musical element, such as harmony, rhythm and melody, to enhance healing. Music therapy and al Quran theraphy are an effective treatment for overcoming stress problems, for example, increasing one’s mood and being accepted by anybody. Healing through sound results from the belief that everything in this world vibrates. Hence, treatment through music uses frequencies or sound that is combined with music or musical elements to enhance healing. The focus is on physiological changes, such as blood pressure, muscle relaxation or the pulse. The effectiveness of sound therapy differs depending on the type, frequency, environment and the level of sound during treatment. Reciting the al-Quran is believed to have unique qualities and effects on the human body. Listening to recitals of the al-Quran has a positive effect and helps someone to reach a rested, calm and also found that the al-Quranic rhythm can reduce the level of depression and be a nonpharmaceutical procedure as well as safe for alleviating anxiety and improving critical signs. The psychoacoustic principles of music found in recitals of the al-Quran function as a kind of relaxing music that has a high impact on reducing pressure, anxiety and depression.

Neuroanatomical Alterations in Patients With Tinnitus Before and After Sound Therapy: A Combined VBM and SCN Study.

Many neuroanatomical alterations have been detected in patients with tinnitus in previous studies. However, little is known about the morphological and structural covariance network (SCN) changes before and after long-term sound therapy. This study aimed to explore alterations in brain anatomical and SCN changes in patients with idiopathic tinnitus using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis 24 weeks before and after sound therapy. Thirty-three tinnitus patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans at baseline and after 24 weeks of sound therapy. Twenty-six age- and sex-matched healthy control (HC) individuals also underwent two scans over a 24-week interval; 3.0T MRI and high-resolution 3D structural images were acquired with a 3D-BRAVO pulse sequence. Structural image data preprocessing was performed using the VBM8 toolbox. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score was assessed for the severity of tinnitus before and after treatment. Two-way mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc analyses were performed to determine differences between the two groups (patients and HCs) and between the two scans (at baseline and on the 24th week). Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) tests were used in the post hoc analysis. Interaction effects between the two groups and the two scans demonstrated significantly different gray matter (GM) volume in the right parahippocampus gyrus, right caudate, left superior temporal gyrus, left cuneus gyrus, and right calcarine gyrus; we found significantly decreased GM volume in the above five brain regions among the tinnitus patients before sound therapy (baseline) compared to that in the HC group. The 24-week sound therapy group demonstrated significantly greater brain volume compared with the baseline group among these brain regions. We did not find significant differences in brain regions between the 24-week sound therapy and HC groups. The SCN results showed that the left superior temporal gyrus and left rolandic operculum were significantly different in nodal efficiency, nodal degree centrality, and nodal betweenness centrality after FDR correction. This study characterized the effect of sound therapy on brain GM volume, especially in the left superior temporal lobe. Notably, sound therapy had a normalizing effect on tinnitus patients.

Effective sound therapy using a hearing aid and educational counseling in patients with chronic tinnitus

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness of our sound therapy with appropriate hearing aid fitting and periodic hearing aid adjustment in patients with chronic tinnitus. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study. The study included 490 individuals who received treatment with hearing aids for chronic tinnitus at least for 3 months. To determine the effects of tinnitus on patients’ quality of life, the participants completed a series of questionnaires, including the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for loudness and annoyance, and questionnaires of subjective symptom improvement. Data were collected at entry and 3 months and 1 year after treatment initiation. ResultsAll 490 participants completed the questionnaires at 3 months; however, only 312 completed them at 1 year. The mean ± standard deviation THI score before treatment decreased significantly at 3 months (490 participants: 53 ± 25 to 11 ± 16 and 312 participants: 55 ± 24 to 12 ± 16) and 1 year (55 ± 24 to 9 ± 14) (P < 0.01). The mean VAS score for tinnitus loudness before treatment decreased significantly at 3 months (490 participants: 70 ± 22 to 25 ± 27 and 312 participants: 71 ± 22 to 27 ± 26) and 1 year (71 ± 22 to 21 ± 28) (P < 0.01). In addition, the mean VAS score for tinnitus annoyance before treatment decreased significantly at 3 months (490 participants: 75 ± 26 to 20 ± 26 and 312 participants: 75 ± 25 to 23 ± 27) and 1 year (75 ± 25 to 17 ± 26) (P < 0.01). Approximately 80% of patients noticed improvements in their tinnitus annoyance and loudness, as determined by their responses to the questionnaires of subjective symptom improvement. ConclusionThe results of this study suggest that treatment with sound therapy may ameliorate the symptoms of chronic tinnitus associated with hearing loss.

Clinical characteristics of subjective idiopathic tinnitus and preliminarily analyses for the effect of tinnitus multielement integration sound therapy.

To study the psychoacoustic and audiological characteristics of patients with chronic subjective tinnitus and provide basis for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus through a single tinnitus multielement integration sound therapy (T-MIST) and analysis of efficacy preliminarily. 145 patients with tinnitus were assessed by systematic medical history collection, professional examination of otolaryngology, audiology examination, full precision test (FPT), residual inhibition test (RIT), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analog scale (VAS) annoyance. The correlation among factors was performed. The frequency of tinnitus was correlated with the frequency of maximum hearing loss (P < 0.05). The loudness of tinnitus was correlated with the loudness of maximum hearing loss (P < 0.05). In this study, T-MIST was used to treat tinnitus. After treatment, tinnitus alleviated VAS annoyance (P < 0.05). The results of RIT were correlated with the effect of T-MIST (P < 0.05). There was a correlation between tinnitus and hearing loss. The RIT may indicate the effectiveness of acoustic therapy in patients. The FPT can find the hidden hearing loss without display on routine pure tone audiometry, so as to provide a clinical reference for the detection of early hearing loss in tinnitus patients.

Effect of Sound Therapy and Yoga on Autism Spectrum Disorder

In the recent past research there is an increasing rate of awareness on care for special needs people in India. Among all of these problems Autism Spectrum Disorder is also gaining a lot of attention and also most commonly found in the early age of children? This article is created to inform people in urban and rural families about autism and its diagnosis, prevention for children with autism. One most important natural and side effect free intervention is yoga therapy and also sound therapy. Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a group of neurodevelopmental disorders which is characterized by behaviour and difficulties with speech and social interaction. The symptoms arise in early childhood and affect day to day activities. Evidence based treatment for autism in yoga is limited but sound therapy is a very effective way to improve symptoms of autistic children. This essential literature overview examines a few latest research on yoga as an intervention, in particular, this review focuses on yoga patterns wherein the practice of yoga poses, referred to as asana, is the middle issue. Even though the full-size high-quality findings are promising, the research had methodological obstacles; the identity of those limitations can tell destiny research.

Development of psychological culture as a condition for effective personal self-actualization

The article examines the problem of personal self-actualization through the lens of psychological culture, approaches to the definition of psychological culture are presented, and the struсture of psychological culture and ways of its development are considered. The article reviews the methods that go beyond the activities of educational institutions: volunteer work, social and psychological training, methods of expressive psychotherapy (art therapy, movement and dance therapy, music therapy, and neuroacoustics – sound therapy), etc. Based on the ecopsychological approach, psychological culture is suggested to be defined as a set of actions to create optimal internal conditions for the development and self-modification of the personality, to cultivate a subject of activity capable of taking action, coordinating its activity with the natural, social, spiritual. and moral (value and meaning) foundations of interaction with the surrounding world and oneself. The article analyses the results of the study of the effect of psychological culture on the development of self-actualization of teachers in refresher courses. At the ascertaining and control stages, the level of self-actualization of teachers in the control and experimental groups was assessed using the Self-Actualization Test (SAT). At the formative stage, teachers of the experimental group participated in a program for the development of psychological culture. The ecopsychological approach with principles developed on its basis and the stage-by-stage nature of the development of new mental functions serves as a basis for constructing the technology for implementing the program for the development of psychological culture in specialists. The reliability of the test results and differences in the mean values are assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The formative program shows the effective influence of psychological culture development on personal self-actualization.

Customised enriched acoustic environment for sound therapy of tinnitus

Tinnitus is an auditory disorder very difficult to treat. Whereas up until now there is not a “cure” for tinnitus, the most extended treatment combines counselling with sound therapy. When this sound is a broadband noise in the audio frequency band, this protocol is named tinnitus retraining therapy. Even though broadband noise was proposed at the beginning as the stimulus for sound therapy, many other sounds have been subsequently proposed and used, including tones, noise bands, music, and nature sounds. Although any sound, low enough to avoid annoyance, discomfort or hearing damage, is better than silence for tinnitus treatment, it is not still clear the relationship of the success of the therapy with the properties of the sound stimuli. The aim of this article is to propose an optimal sound treatment that provides a precise and selective stimulation of the whole auditory system. The proposed sound stimulus, Enriched Acoustic Environment, consists of sequential tones or broadband noise matched to the HL curves of the patients. The acoustical characteristics of these stimuli are analyzed and their positive effects in the treatment of subjects with tinnitus are reported.

Principles of diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus

Tinnitus is one of the most common otological symptoms and can be defined as the conscious perception of sound lasting more than 5 minutes in the absence of an external auditory stimulus. Based on the review of articles, a comparative analysis of modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of tinnitus was carried out in order to substantiate the most effective and promising algorithms for providing care to patients. Diagnosis of tinnitus includes taking anamnesis, assessing the severity of tinnitus using questionnaires, otoscopy, hearing examination, and performing additional tests. In case of secondary murmur, etiotropic therapy should be started as soon as possible to prevent hearing loss and other complications. For primary noise, the most effective treatments are cognitive-behavioral therapy, tinnitus maskers and sound therapy, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, and biofeedback. Magnetic stimulation, invasive neuromodulation, drug therapy have a lower level of effectiveness and evidence base.

The ways to achieve happiness

The paper examines the definitions of happiness in psychology, analyzes the components of happiness, describes various methods of achieving happiness: volunteering or working for a good cause, positive thinking, methods of expressive therapy such as music and art therapy. Particular attention is paid to the description of neuro acoustics (sound therapy) and special psychological methods like the Key method developed by H. Aliev, the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing method developed by F. Shapiro, and the wing wave method developed by C. Besser-Siegmund and H. Siegmund; psychological training and psychotherapeutic technologies such as the Be Set Free Fast technique. To prove our hypothesis that modern psychological methods affect the psychological correction of students’ personal anxiety and make a person happier, we conducted a study to look at the influence of modern psychological methods on the psychological correction of students’ anxiety. At the summative and control stages of the study, we used the adapted version of R. Phillips’ anxiety test (for students). At the formative stage of the study, we used the developed and tested program of psychological correction for personal anxiety. Group methods were used as key methods of psychological correction, including brain gymnastics by P. Dennison and G. Dennison, the Key method by H. Aliyev; individual lessons with certified psychologists using the eye movement desensitization, and reprocessing method by F. Shapiro, and wing wave method by C. Besser-Siegmund and H. Siegmund. The university psychologist taught students the Be Set Free Fast protocol, and students also listened to neuro acoustic programs at home. The results of the experimental study proved that the program, based on modern psychological methods, contributed not only to the psycho-correction of students’ personal anxiety but also to improving the mental health of students and their perception of a happier life. The program can be recommended for psychological correctional work with first-year university students during the period of adaptation to university studies and for work with all students who have an increased level of anxiety and stress.

Management of tinnitus in patients with vestibular schwannoma who underwent surgical resection.

To evaluate tinnitus and its management in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) who underwent surgery, we investigate the effect of surgical approach or residual hearing on tinnitus severity and the effects of intervention for tinnitus including educational counseling, sound therapy using hearing aids (HAs), and medication (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and SSRIs). Seventy-one subjects of VS patients who underwent surgery were included. Their tinnitus severity was evaluated using the Japanese version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). The relationships between postoperative THI scores and surgery types or residual hearing levels were examined. We also examined longitudinal changes in THI scores and the efficacy of the intervention. Surgery approach, hearing preservation or hearing loss surgery, and residual hearing levels were not significantly related to the postoperative tinnitus severity. In 71 cases, 45 cases did not require any management for tinnitus. On the contrary, 26 patients had at least one episode of tinnitus distress (THI score was greater than or equal to 18). Educational counseling alone was found to be effective in 17 cases out of the 26 cases, and the remaining 9 cases required more intervention than educational counseling alone. We selected sound therapy with HA for 7 cases and administration of SSRI for 2 cases, which was found to be highly effective in 8 cases. Based on the present study, we consider that appropriate management may be possible for tinnitus in the majority of VS patients who underwent surgery.

Experience of the mathematically optimal healing based on the sound therapy

Experience of the mathematically optimal healing based on the sound therapy

Tinnitus, Use and Evaluation of Sound Therapy, Current Evidence and Area of Future Tinnitus Research.

Tinnitus is one of the otologic symptoms seen in persons with ear pathologies. It is defined as an acoustic sensation in the ear without a corresponding external acoustic stimulus. Tinnitus is said to be generated from the higher auditory centres because of reduced feedback from the peripheral or neural component but can be an outcome of irritation at different levels of the auditory system. Several treatment modalities have been tried in the management of tinnitus, either as a single treatment or as part of combination therapy. They range from lifestyle or dietary modification, medications, surgery, to Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT), use of sound generating devices, hearing aids and cochlear implants. Current literature has shown that the prevalence of tinnitus is highly variable and reflects the difference in symptom criteria and patient selection for the various treatment modalities. This variability is also visible in the outcomes of cases where the various treatment modalities have been used. In the presence of an augmented hearing, the brain can focus on the meaningful sound generated externally while suppressing or even aborting the tinnitus. Future tinnitus research needs to apply the highest level of randomization and blinding, in line with the high subjectivity of tinnitus and the possibility of a response with control. The natural sequence of tinnitus is characterized by the conditioning or habituation and possible gradual attenuation of symptom, this implies that there is a limit to which the benefits observed was due to our intervention rather than a natural process of this symptom.

Tinnitus Tedavisinde İnternet Tabanlı Akıllı Telefon Ses Terapisi Uygulamasının Etkinliğinin İncelenmesi

Tinnitus Tedavisinde İnternet Tabanlı Akıllı Telefon Ses Terapisi Uygulamasının Etkinliğinin İncelenmesi