Tinnitus Relief Effect According to the Stimulus Listening Method of Sound Therapy

Purpose: This study investigated the tinnitus relief effect of the stimulation listening method in sound therapy. Methods: The participants were randomly divided into two groups: 16 in the continuous listening group and 15 in the intermittent listening group. The participants listened to broad-band noise at the mixing point level for 3 months, either continuously for 2 hours or intermittently 4 hours for 30 minutes, depending on the group allocation. The results of this study were confirmed by measuring scores through the Korean version of the Tinnitus Primary Function Questionnaire (K-TPFQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) for tinnitus loudness and annoyance at pretreatment and at 1, 2, and 3 months follow-ups. Results: Average scores of the K-TPFQ and VAS for tinnitus loudness and annoyance significantly improved with the duration of sound therapy in both the continuous listening and intermittent listening groups (p < 0.05). However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding the stimulation listening method in sound therapy, and no significant interaction effects were confirmed. Conclusion: The method of listening to the sound therapy continuously for 2 hours and the method of listening intermittently for 30 minutes had similar tinnitus relief effects.