Hearing Aids Mitigate Tinnitus, But Does It Matter if the Patient Receives Amplification in Accordance With Their Hearing Impairment or Not? A Meta-Analysis
American Journal of Audiology
Waechter, S., & Jönsson, A. (2022).
American Journal of Audiology, 31(3), 789-818.
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effects of objective verification of hearing aid amplication (i.e. real ear measurements, sensogram, or in situ verification) on tinnitus-related outcomes.
No funding received
1996 to 2021
Peer-reviewed articles with pre and post-test design excluding case studies
27
<div>Findings demonstrated a significant reduction in tinnitus loudness following hearing aid fitting, with significantly greater reduction seen in verified compared to unverified amplification. Tinnitus distress was significantly reduced immediately following, at least 3 months post, at least 3-6 months post, and at least 12 months post hearing aid fitting. While reductions in distress were noted at each time period for verified versus unverified amplification, these differences were only significant at the 12 months or great time period. Potential influence of a singular outlier was noted immediately and at 3-months post hearing aid fitting, with removal of the outlier resulting in significant findings. A significant risk of bias within included studies was a notable limitation to this review. Further research is indicated to determine the efficacy as well and the cost-benefit of verified versus unverified amplification for people with tinnitus.</div>
