Effect of Fractal Tones on the Improvement of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Functional Scores among Chronic Tinnitus Patients: An Open-label Pilot Study

Introduction Music-based sound therapies become recently a trend in the treatment of tinnitus. Few publications have studied the therapeutic use of fractal tones to treat chronic tinnitus. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the benefits of using fractal tones as a unique sound therapy for chronic tinnitus sufferers. Methods Twelve participants were recruited; however, six could not be assigned. At baseline and at 1, 3 and 6 months, the participants were provided with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) questionnaires, and their visual analog scale score was recorded. Tinnitus pitch and loudness matching was performed before fitting and after 6 months of use. Results The visual analog scale (VAS) score, pitch and loudness matching and minimal masking levels did not result in significant improvement at the end of the treatment. The mean THI measured at baseline was 45, and the final one was 25. A paired sample t-test showed that this 20-point difference was statistically significant. Conclusions We measured the benefits of using fractal tone therapy for the treatment of chronic tinnitus and found that most of the benefits were in the THI functional domain, which includes concentration, reading, attention, consciousness, sleep, social activities, and household tasks. For all patients with bothersome chronic tinnitus and high scores on the THI functional scale, fractal tones should be considered a promising initial sound therapy strategy. The findings from this open-label pilot study are preliminary, and further trials are needed before these results can be generalized to a larger tinnitus population.

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Tinnitus evaluation: relationship between pitch matching and loudness, visual analog scale and tinnitus handicap inventory

Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.1016/j.bjorl.2018.05.006 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 85 (5) ◽

pp. 611-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Islan da Penha Nascimento ◽

Anna Alice Almeida ◽

José Diniz ◽

Mariana Lopes Martins ◽

Thaís Mendonça Maia Wanderley Cruz de Freitas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Analog Scale ◽

Analog Scale ◽

Tinnitus Handicap Inventory ◽

Pitch Matching

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Treatment of chronic tinnitus with repeated sessions of prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation: outcomes from an open-label pilot study

Journal of Neurology ◽

10.1007/s00415-011-6189-4 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 259 (2) ◽

pp. 327-333 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

Elmar Frank ◽

Martin Schecklmann ◽

Michael Landgrebe ◽

Julia Burger ◽

Peter Kreuzer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Chronic Tinnitus ◽

Open Label ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

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Retrograde Light-guided Laryngoscopy for Tracheal Intubation

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/aln.0b013e31828877c0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 118 (5) ◽

pp. 1059-1064 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tao Yang ◽

Jiong Hou ◽

Jinbao Li ◽

Xu Zhang ◽

Xiaoyan Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tracheal Intubation ◽

Success Rate ◽

Visual Analog Scale ◽

Direct Laryngoscopy ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Intubation Time ◽

Analog Scale ◽

Open Label ◽

Intubation Technique ◽

Rate Difference

Abstract Background: Tracheal intubation with conventional laryngoscopy requires many trials until beginners are sufficiently skilled in intubating patients safely. To facilitate intubation, the authors used retrograde light-guided laryngoscopy (RLGL) and compared its feasibility with conventional direct laryngoscopy (DL). Methods: Twenty operators participated in a prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-arm study. These operators intubated 205 patients randomly according to a computer-generated procedure by using either DL or RLGL (five intubations with each technique). The primary outcome was the success rate of tracheal intubation. The authors evaluated the success rate of tracheal intubation, the time to glottic exposure and tracheal intubation, and the Cormack and Lehane grades. Results: Compared with DL, the success rate was greater in the RLGL group for all five intubations (72% vs. 47%; rate difference, 25%; 95% CI [11.84–38.16%], P < 0.001). This was associated with a shorter time to glottic exposure (median [25th and 75th percentile]; 27 [15; 42] vs. 45 [30; 73] s, P < 0.001), shorter intubation time (66 [44; 120] vs. 120 [69; 120] s, P < 0.001), and decreased throat soreness (mean ± SD; visual analog scale, 2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 3.7 ± 1.0 cm, P = 0.001) in the RLGL group compared to the DL group. Conclusion: RLGL is an alternative intubation technique. In our study, it enables beginners to intubate patients more successfully and quickly than conventional DL.

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A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of the Effects of Daily tDCS Sessions Targeting the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Visual Analog Scale Scores

Brain Stimulation ◽

10.1016/j.brs.2015.06.019 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 978-980 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Karini Cavalcanti ◽

Joaquim P. Brasil-Neto ◽

Nasser Allam ◽

Raphael Boechat-Barros

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Visual Analog Scale ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Analog Scale ◽

Double Blind ◽

Double Blind Placebo ◽

Tinnitus Handicap Inventory ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽

Scale Scores

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Psychometric Evaluation of Visual Analog Scale for the Assessment of Chronic Tinnitus

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/1059-0889(2012/12-0010) ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 215-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Ilya Adamchic ◽

Berthold Langguth ◽

Christian Hauptmann ◽

Peter Alexander Tass

Keyword(s):

Visual Analog Scale ◽

Psychometric Evaluation ◽

Chronic Tinnitus ◽

Analog Scale

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The Long-term Effect of Neurofeedback Therapy as Adjuvant Therapy on the Management of Tinnitus: A Prospective Clinical Trial

Caspian Journal of Neurological Sciences ◽

10.32598/cjns.7.24.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 17-21

Author(s):

Seyed Hamidreza Abtahi ◽

◽

Seyed Mojtaba Abtahi ◽

Motahare Mirdamadi ◽

Mohammad Hossein Nilforoush ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Adjuvant Therapy ◽

Visual Analog Scale ◽

Nervous Activity ◽

Repeated Measure ◽

Analog Scale ◽

Significance Level ◽

Tinnitus Handicap Inventory ◽

Long Term Effect

Background: Recently, various studies have been performed to examine the effect of neurofeedback on treating tinnitus. However, these studies reported different results. In this process, the nervous activity of the patient is evaluated. For example, the aspects associated with brain processes are extracted through temporal processing signs, and then auditory or visual feedback is given to the person. Objectives: The present study investigates the effect of neurofeedback sessions on treating tinnitus. Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial study, 30 patients with tinnitus who met the inclusion criteria were included. They referred to the otorhinolaryngology clinic of Azahra and Kashani hospitals in Isfahan City, Iran. The patients underwent 20 sessions of neurofeedback and were examined at time intervals before the intervention and then 1, 3, and 5 months after the intervention. To evaluate the patients, we used tinnitus handicap inventory and visual analog scale. To examine the changes in VAS and THI data at different times, repeated measure ANOVA test was utilized. The significance level was considered less than 0.05. The analysis was performed in SPSS V. 24. Results: Five months after the intervention, tinnitus handicap inventory (P<0.001) and visual analog scale (P<0.001) scores of the patients significantly improved. Also, no complication resulting from the use of neurofeedback was observed in the patients. Conclusion: Usage of neurofeedback sessions as adjuvant therapy could be an effective treatment in patients who suffer from tinnitus.

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