A Multidisciplinary European Guideline for Tinnitus: Diagnostics, Assessment, and Treatment
HNO
Cima, R.F., Mazurek, B., et al. (2019).
HNO, 67(1), 10-42.
This clinical practice guideline provides recommendations regarding best practice in the assessment and treatment of tinnitus for adult patients. Only recommendations within the audiologist's scope of practice are included in this article summary.
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action BM1306, TINNET Working Group I
Patients with tinnitus who report complaints of decompensation or show decompensation of grade two or higher should participate in assessment of tinnitus-related disability with the use of at least one measure (e.g., the Tinnitus Handicap Index, the Tinnitus Questionnare).
Cochlear implantation is recommended for individuals who meet the hearing loss criteria for candidacy. No recommendations were made either for or against the use of cochlear implants in individuals with tinnitus who are not deaf or hard of hearing (No Recommendation).
Hearing aids are recommended for the management of hearing loss and should be considered as an option for patients with tinnitus and hearing loss (Weak Recommendation For). "Hearing aids should not be offered to tinnitus patients without hearing loss. Tinnitus might be a parameter to be considered in hearing aid fitting and consequent relevant decision-making" (p. S23).
While tinnitus retraining therapy and sound therapy (e.g., masking, music, environmental sound) are safe treatments, there is a lack of high quality evidence to support the use of these treatments for individuals with tinnitus (No Recommendation).
