Treatment of tinnitus with a customized, dynamic acoustic neural stimulus: clinical outcomes in general private practice.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluate the relative effectiveness of a newly available tinnitus treatment approach for different categories of patients in general private practice.


METHODS
This was a cohort study, sponsored by Neuromonics, involving the first 470 patients to undertake the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment in 7 Neuromonics tinnitus clinics. All patients were provided with a dynamic acoustic neural stimulus, customized to each patient's audiometric profile, for daily use as part of a structured rehabilitation program. Tinnitus disturbance was assessed before, during, and after treatment with the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire.


RESULTS
The outcomes displayed a relation with patients' suitability according to predefined criteria: among the most suitable patients (tier 1 cohort), 92% exceeded the threshold for success (defined as a reduction in tinnitus-related disturbance of at least 40%), and the mean improvement in tinnitus disturbance was 72%; the discontinuance rate was 4%. For other suitability categories, the success rates and mean improvements were somewhat lower, and the discontinuance rates higher (tier 2: 60%, 49%, and 16%, respectively; tier 3: 39%, 32%, and 17%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that the treatment is effective for suitable patients in the private practice setting, and they provide health-care professionals with guidance as to what patients might expect from treatment, depending on their degree of suitability.
Hanley
Peter J
PJ
Neuromonics Pty Limited, Chatswood, Australia.
Davis
Paul B
PB
Paki
Bardia
B
Quinn
Shaunine A
SA
Bellekom
Sandra R
SR
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011331:Private Practice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult