Customised acoustic therapy delivered through a web-based platform-An innovative approach to tinnitus treatment

Abstract

Objectives: Customised acoustic therapy aims to moderate the neural pathways implicated in the pathophysiology of tinnitus. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of customised acoustic therapy administered via a web-based treatment platform.

Design: Clinical trial with prospective recruitment. Fifty-eight participants underwent 6 weeks of customised acoustic therapy.

Setting: Treatment was delivered for 2 h each day using a smartphone, tablet or computer. Treatment was integrated into usual daily activities.

Participants: Participants with subjective tinnitus were recruited through public and private otolaryngology clinics and electronic and print media.

Main outcomes measured: FiveQ, a novel 5 question tinnitus questionnaire, was measured at baseline and each week of treatment. Statistical analyses, including Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and mixed linear regression, were used to assess treatment efficacy and identify factors associated with treatment response.

Results: 39/58 participants (67.2%) had an improvement in symptom severity scores, 4 had no change (6.9%) and 15 had a decline from baseline (25.9%). Mean FiveQ scores improved by 22.9% from 40.8 (SD = 21.4) at baseline to 31.5 (SD = 21.3) following 6 weeks of treatment (p < 0.001). With the exception of the slight tinnitus group, all other groups (from mild to catastrophic) demonstrated a treatment response. Participants with low frequency tinnitus (<2000 Hz) had a significantly greater treatment response (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Customised acoustic therapy administered via a web-based platform demonstrated encouraging efficacy. At least mild symptoms at baseline and low frequency tinnitus were associated with a greater treatment response. Customised acoustic therapy offers accessible and efficacious tinnitus treatment, however longer term clinical studies are required to confirm the observed initial benefit is maintained.

Keywords: audiology; general; neuro-otology; quality of life; tinnitus.