The efficacy of open molds in controlling tinnitus.
Hearing aids may be a option to improve tinnitus and hearing loss.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate tinnitus after one month use of BTE hearing aids with open molds and pressure vent molds in patients with symmetric sensorineural hearing loss.


METHODS
50 patients seen at our Tinnitus Clinic who presented bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss underwent a randomized blind crossover clinical trial: 26 first used BTE hearing aids with open molds, and the remaining 24 first used pressure vent molds. After 30 days using the first mold and a wash-out period, the type of earmold was changed and was applied for another 30-day-period. Tinnitus evaluation was done qualitatively (improved, unchanged and worsened) and quantitatively (variation on a numeric scale from 0 to 10).


RESULTS
82% of the cases reported improvement of tinnitus with at least one type of earmold; there was no significant difference in the reduction of discomfort due to tinnitus in the quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Although similar tinnitus control was obtained with both methods, 66% of the patients preferred the open mold.


CONCLUSIONS
In a short-term evaluation improvement of tinnitus by the use of hearing aids does not depend on earmold ventilation.
University of São Paulo, clinical speech and hearing therapy.
Gisele
G
Munhoes dos Santos Ferrari
Tanit Ganz
TG
Sanchez
Maria Elisabete
ME
Bovino Pedalini
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome