Amplification Strategies to Reduce Tinnitus: A Paired Comparison Method

Background : The study investigates the best amplification strategy that provides tinnitus relief in a quiet environment, for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss with bothersome tinnitus. Methods: The repeated measures research design was utilized. Twenty participants (age range 25 years to 65 years; mean: 48.28 years) with bilateral symmetrical sloping sensorineural hearing loss with bothersome unilateral tinnitus were recruited. They were sub-grouped into low- and high-pitched tinnitus groups. A preference score was obtained for each of the strategies in hearing aid fitting, using the paired comparison method. The 4 strategies used were the desired sensation level (input/output) and the National Acoustic Laboratories’ nonlinear fitting method (version 1), at each of the low (30 dB SPL) and high (50 dB SPL) compression thresholds. Besides, the severity of tinnitus was assessed using the tinnitus severity index before and after 1 month of using the hearing aid in the best-selected strategy. Results: A repeated-measure ANOVA revealed no significant effect of the group on the preference score but was significant for strategies on relief from tinnitus. The desired sensation level (input/output) at a low compression threshold was the best strategy for alleviating tinnitus. Thirty-five percent of the study participants preferred the desired sensation level (input/output) strategy at low and high compression threshold, respectively. The remaining 25% preferred the National Acoustic Laboratories’ nonlinear hearing aid (version 1) at low compression threshold, and 5% selected the same device at high compression threshold. Furthermore, a significant association was observed in the severity of tinnitus before and after the hearing aid fitting set at the preferred program. Conclusion: The desired sensation level (input/output) method at the low compression threshold is the best program to alleviate bothersome tinnitus.