The Effectiveness of Hearing Aid and Combined Devices (Hearing Aid+ Tinnitus Masker) in the Management of Tinnitus

Abstract

We have conducted this study to determine the effectiveness of hearing aids and combined hearing and masking devices in improving the severity of tinnitus, sleep disturbance, emotional status, concentration, and hearing impairment in patients suffering from tinnitus. It was a quasi-experimental study done in the ENT department at KEMU/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from March 2021 to May 2021. 147 patients presenting with sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus on pure tone audiometry of both genders aged between 20 and 80 years were included in the study and those with conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, and patients suffering from psychiatric disorders were excluded from the study. Tinnitus impact on concentration, sleep, emotion, and hearing was assessed with lowa tinnitus activity questionnaire and tinnitus severity was assessed with the Tinnitus severity index (TSI) before use of a hearing aid or combined device. Hearing Aid (HA)/ Combined device (Hearing Aid +Tinnitus Masker) was dispensed to all patients and patients were re-assessed by lowa tinnitus questionnaire and TSI after 12 weeks. P<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Out of 147 patients, 73 (49.7%) were females and 74 (50.3%) were males. The mean age of patients was 53.91±9.19. The mean concentration score before treatment was 151.87±28.06 and after treatment was 99.67±34.81 (p<0.05). The mean sleep score before and after the hearing aid/tinnitus masker was 133.14±33.14 and 84.51±34.82(p<0.05). The mean Emotion score was 133.21±23.48 and 87.32±34.55 (p<0.05). The mean Hearing Score was 88.06±23.59 and 45.19±23.95(p<0.05). Mean TSI was 30.04±6.30 and 17.56±7.39. Hearing aids and combined devices are effective tools in improving sleep disturbance, emotional status, concentration, hearing, and decreasing the severity of tinnitus, and can improve quality of life significantly.