title: Sound therapy for tinnitus management: practicable options.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors reviewed practicable options of sound therapy for tinnitus, the evidence base for each option, and the implications of each option for the patient and for clinical practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide a general guide to selecting sound therapy options in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Practicable sound therapy options.
  
  
  METHODS
  Where available, peer-reviewed empirical studies, conference proceedings, and review studies were examined. Material relevant to the purpose was summarized in a narrative.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of peer-reviewed publications pertaining to each sound therapy option reviewed varied significantly (from none to over 10). Overall there is currently insufficient evidence to support or refute the routine use of individual sound therapy options. It is likely, however, that sound therapy combined with education and counseling is generally helpful to patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians need to be guided by the patient's point of care, patient motivation and expectations of sound therapy, and the acceptability of the intervention both in terms of the sound stimuli they are to use and whether they are willing to use sound extensively or intermittently. Clinicians should also clarify to patients the role sound therapy is expected to play in the management plan.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Derek J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hoare
authors.affiliation: Section of Audiology and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Grant D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Searchfield
authors.affiliation: Human Communication Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Refaie
authors.affiliation: VA RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), VA Medical Center, Portland, OR; Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*