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Investigation on chronic tinnitus efficacy of combination of non-repetitive preferred music and educational counseling: a preliminary study

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To improve the efficacy of music therapy on tinnitus relief, specific music that was not repetitively played and satisfies individualized preference was developed. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of combination of the specific music and educational counseling on tinnitus relief in short term.

Methods

Sixty patients suffering from chronic tinnitus were included. The non-randomized controlled study was designed with two intervention groups: educational counseling (EC, which included a 1-h individualized instruction) and preferred music therapy [PMT, which included EC plus 15, 30-min preferred music sessions (PMS)]. Three assessments—the Chinese-Mandarin version of Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI-CM), Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire (TEQ), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were administered before and 1, 2, 3 weeks after initiation of treatment to evaluate the efficacy.

Results

Twenty-six patients in PMT group attained a clinically meaningful improvement in THI compared to 15 in the EC group, though both groups achieved a statistically relevant reduction in the 3 assessments.

Conclusion

The PMT had a positive impact on chronic tinnitus and related distress in a short term. It outperformed the separate EC, which is an appropriate treatment option in clinic. Therefore, it presents a possible complement to the therapeutic spectrum in chronic tinnitus.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900022624. Registered on 19 April 2019.

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Funding

This study is supported by the Science and Technology Support Program of Sichuan Province, China under Grant (No. 2013GZ1043).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

    Jiemei Chen, Fan Pan, Leiyu Qi, Tiantian He & Peiyu He

  2. Hearing Center/Hearing and Speech Science Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

    Ping Zhong, Zhaoli Meng, Jingzhe Lu & Yun Zheng

Authors
  1. Jiemei Chen
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  2. Ping Zhong
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  3. Zhaoli Meng
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  4. Fan Pan
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  5. Leiyu Qi
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  6. Tiantian He
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  7. Jingzhe Lu
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  8. Peiyu He
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  9. Yun Zheng
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Peiyu He or Yun Zheng.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This non-randomized controlled study was approved by the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital of Sichuan University and registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry network (Identifier Number: ChiCTR1900022624).

Consent to participate

Written informed consents were obtained from all patients before experiment.

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Chen, J., Zhong, P., Meng, Z. et al. Investigation on chronic tinnitus efficacy of combination of non-repetitive preferred music and educational counseling: a preliminary study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 278, 2745–2752 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06340-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-06340-w

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