A Comparison of Nature and Technical Sounds for Tinnitus Therapy

Sound has been used for the management of tinnitus for centuries, with broadband noise being available as a masking sound in ear-level hearing aids since the late 1970s. With the development of hearing aids designed for use with iOS and Android smartphones it is now possible to stream complex recorded sounds to listeners hearing aids. This digital streaming ability has increased the range of sounds available for sound-based tinnitus therapy. Aims: A clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the effects of sounds of nature on tinnitus. Methods: Changes in THI and rating scales were measured in 20 patients before, three and six months following the fitting of prototype hearing aids streaming a self-selected range of sounds of nature installed on the users' smartphone. The outcomes were compared to a similar group of 17 participants receiving the same management except through conventional sound therapy hearing aids generating broadband noise. Results: The nature sounds group showed a 22.5 point THI decline over 6 months, the comparison group 21.3 points. The difference of the THI decline between the two groups was -0.62 (95% CI: -6.35; 5.12) and it was not significant (p=0.83). However, a significant (p<0.001) mean decline of 10.96 points (95% CI 8.08; 13.83) was observed per each unit of time in both groups. Conclusions: Significant improvements were obtained in both nature and broadband noise groups at three and six months following fitting. No significant difference was found between the two groups using one or the other type of sound.