Sound Therapy (Masking) in the Management of Tinnitus in Adults
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Hobson, J., Chisholm, E., et al. (2012).
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11, CD006371.
This systematic review investigates the impact of noise-generating devices (e.g., masking devices, hearing aids, bone-anchored hearing aids, cochlear implants) on changes in loudness or severity of tinnitus and/or quality of life in adults with subjective tinnitus.
The Cochrane Collaboration
Through February 2012
Randomized controlled trials
6
The findings from six low quality studies revealed that sound therapy (i.e., the use of sound masking devices) did not have a significant effect on the loudness or severity of tinnitus symptoms in adults compared to other interventions (e.g., counseling/education, tinnitus retraining therapy or tinnitus coping strategies). However, the authors caution that lack of evidence should not be interpreted as lack of effect with future high quality research needed to determine the efficacy of tinnitus management options in isolation, and long-term tinnitus outcomes.
