The results of short-course acoustic test could act as an effective predictor of the efficacy of customized music therapy for chronic tinnitus.

Objectives: The aim of our study is to explore the predictive value of the short-course acoustic test in determining the efficacy of customized music therapy for chronic subjective tinnitus.

Design: Patients with tinnitus as one of the core complaints were included from October 2022 to June 2024. According to the short-course acoustic test results, the participants were divided into three groups: tinnitus disappeared group, tinnitus relieved group and tinnitus unchanged group. All the participants indiscriminately underwent the 10-months of customized music therapy (CMT) and follow-up visits.

Results: Before therapy, only the duration of tinnitus was significantly different among the three groups (p < 0.001). After 10-months of CMT treatment, the Tinnitus Loudness Visual Analogue Scale (THI), Hospital Anxiety Scale (HADS-A) and Tinnitus Loudness Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of the three groups showed a decreasing trend (p < 0.05), and the treatment efficacy rate of the tinnitus disappeared group was higher than that of the tinnitus relieved group, while the treatment efficacy rate of the tinnitus relieved group was higher than that of the tinnitus unchanged group. The logistic regression results showed that the results of the short-course acoustic test, baseline THI scores, and the presence of hearing loss had significant effects on the efficacy of CMT.

Conclusion: The short-course acoustic test to some extent can predict the efficacy of CMT in patients with chronic subjective tinnitus and can be used to guide clinical therapy.