Clinical Implication and Therapeutic Efficacy of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Park, Shi Nae; Yeo, Sang Won; Chung, Sang Hee; Rhee, Soo Jin; Park, Yong Soo; Suh, Byung Do

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) has been presented as a new approach to tiniutus management. The aim of this paper is to show the clinical implication method of TRT in our clinic and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of TRT based on questionnaires and tinnitograms.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Using the clinical implication method of TRT, 60 patients with tinnitus, who visited Tinnitus Clinic, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from May, 1999 to July, 2001, and who had received TRT for their tinnitus, were included for the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of TRT. Their psychoacoustic characteristics of tinnitus and changes of subjective tinnitus were analyzed.
RESULTS
Loudness, awareness, annoyance and effect on life of tinnitus decreased after TRT. Tinnitus handicap score also significantly decreased (p<0.05). Forty-eight patients among the sixty patients (80%) showed relief of their tinnitus in more than 2 of 4 subjective parameters (loudness, awareness, annoyance and effect on life of tinnitus).
CONCLUSION
TRT has been shown to be effective in the treatment of subjective tinnitus. Modification of TRT may be necessary for easy application of this therapy in Korea.