Clinical prognostic factors for tinnitus retraining therapy with a sound generator in tinnitus patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study is to find out the clinical characteristics which determine candidates for tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) with a sound generator (SG) as well as the prognosis of this treatment.


METHODS
This study enrolled 270 serious tinnitus patients who visited this institute between January 2004 and December 2008 in the TRT program. The relationships among compliance, efficacy, clinical characteristics, and affinity for SG were evaluated retrospectively.


RESULTS
The persistence rate at one month was 61.5%. The shorter duration and higher pitch of tinnitus were significant independent predictors of compliance. Six months after the initiation of TRT, 65.2% subjects demonstrated significant relief from tinnitus. The Kaplan-Meier method demonstrated that the overall efficacy rate at 18 months was 86.5%. The lower loudness of tinnitus, recognition of tinnitus attenuation by a sound generator, and patient's positive attitude toward TRT were significant variables for predicting favorable results.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients with lower loudness of tinnitus were suitable for TRT with a SG.
Ariizumi
Yosuke
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan. ariizumi.oto@tmd.ac.jp
Hatanaka
Akio
A
Kitamura
Ken
K
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome