Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is a rehabilitation approach for tinnitus that is currently considered an effective treatment with an elevated response rate. TRT is usually delivered through sound generators; however, they are often difficult to find and expensive. Recently, mobile apps have been proposed for TRT. This study aims to verify the effectiveness of TRT performed using mobile apps in reducing the adverse effects of tinnitus on the quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients affected by tinnitus in category 0 (mild tinnitus) and category 1 (moderate tinnitus), according to the Jastreboff classification, were included in the study. Patients of both classes were subsequently differentiated into two homogeneous groups; the first (Group A) was treated with a traditional sound generator, and the second (Group B) using a mobile app. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory – the Italian version of the questionnaire – was used to investigate the impact of tinnitus on the quality of life in enrolled patients and evaluate their response to TRT. RESULTS: A significant improvement was found in THI scores in category 0 patients for both sound generator and mobile app groups; no difference was found between the two-treatment delivery technology (-1.186, p=0.783); conversely, tinnitus improvements in category 1 patients were only reported for subjects treated using a sound generator (-14.529, p<0.001), while no significant improvement was found in patients treated using the mobile app. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the value of TRT, which in patients with mild tinnitus (category 0), can also be delivered through mobile apps with results comparable to traditional sound generators. Further studies are necessary to confirm the effects of the different tinnitus treatments available and improve the knowledge on this topic.

Sound therapy in patients with tinnitus: traditional sound generators vs. mobile apps / Altissimi, G.; Musacchio, A.; Pace, A.; Greco, A.; Magliulo, G.; Iagnocco, G.; Ciofalo, A.; Ralli, M.. - In: EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES. - ISSN 2284-0729. - 28:11(2024), pp. 3781-3786. [10.26355/eurrev_202406_36384]

Sound therapy in patients with tinnitus: traditional sound generators vs. mobile apps

G. ALTISSIMI
Primo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
A. MUSACCHIO
Secondo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
A. PACE
Formal Analysis
;
A. GRECO
Supervision
;
G. MAGLIULO
Supervision
;
G. IAGNOCCO
Formal Analysis
;
A. CIOFALO
Penultimo
Data Curation
;
M. RALLI
Ultimo
Writing – Review & Editing
2024

Abstract

Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is a rehabilitation approach for tinnitus that is currently considered an effective treatment with an elevated response rate. TRT is usually delivered through sound generators; however, they are often difficult to find and expensive. Recently, mobile apps have been proposed for TRT. This study aims to verify the effectiveness of TRT performed using mobile apps in reducing the adverse effects of tinnitus on the quality of life. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients affected by tinnitus in category 0 (mild tinnitus) and category 1 (moderate tinnitus), according to the Jastreboff classification, were included in the study. Patients of both classes were subsequently differentiated into two homogeneous groups; the first (Group A) was treated with a traditional sound generator, and the second (Group B) using a mobile app. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory – the Italian version of the questionnaire – was used to investigate the impact of tinnitus on the quality of life in enrolled patients and evaluate their response to TRT. RESULTS: A significant improvement was found in THI scores in category 0 patients for both sound generator and mobile app groups; no difference was found between the two-treatment delivery technology (-1.186, p=0.783); conversely, tinnitus improvements in category 1 patients were only reported for subjects treated using a sound generator (-14.529, p<0.001), while no significant improvement was found in patients treated using the mobile app. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the value of TRT, which in patients with mild tinnitus (category 0), can also be delivered through mobile apps with results comparable to traditional sound generators. Further studies are necessary to confirm the effects of the different tinnitus treatments available and improve the knowledge on this topic.
2024
tinnitus; sound therapy; sound generators; mobile apps
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Sound therapy in patients with tinnitus: traditional sound generators vs. mobile apps / Altissimi, G.; Musacchio, A.; Pace, A.; Greco, A.; Magliulo, G.; Iagnocco, G.; Ciofalo, A.; Ralli, M.. - In: EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES. - ISSN 2284-0729. - 28:11(2024), pp. 3781-3786. [10.26355/eurrev_202406_36384]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1728016
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