Impact of Duration of Residual Inhibition on Tinnitus Masking in Patients with and Without Hearing Impairment

Abstract

Introduction: Residual inhibition (RI) is described as a temporary reduction in the loudness of tinnitus as a result of stimulation from a noise. Aim: This study is aimed to determine the efficacy of durational aspects of tinnitus masking on self-reported tinnitus handicapped measures in patients with and without hearing impairment. Sample Size: Sixty participants were included and divided into two groups – Group A (mean age 44.7, standard deviation [SD] 12.02) included tinnitus participants with normal hearing and Group B (mean age 43.81, SD 12.79) included participants with hearing impairment. Methodology: Audiological evaluation was done after a detailed case history visual analog scale (VAS) and tinnitus handicapped inventory (THI) were used pre- and post-therapy to assess the severity of tinnitus. Tinnitus masking was done at the level MML + 20 dB at matched frequency of the tinnitus. Each group had three subgroups of ten participants for masking duration– 15, 20, and 30 min of RI. The therapy was terminated when the tinnitus disappeared or after 1 month (5 days a week). Statistical analysis was performed using Paired t-test, Independent t-test, and ANOVA. Results: There was a significant difference in the effect of tinnitus masking for pre- and post-data among different masking durations measured in VAS and THI irrespective of hearing status. 30-min masking duration can be used as a standardized norm for tinnitus masking. Conclusion: Thus, the study provides a structured temporal course for providing tinnitus masking.