Therapy of hyperacusis in patients with tinnitus

BACKGROUND: Patients with tinnitus very often suffer from hyperacusis also. METHODS AND PATIENTS: In the present study a possible treatment for patients with bilateral hyperacusis is introduced and the therapeutical results of 41 patients suffering from bilateral hyperacusis combined with a uni- or bilateral tinnitus are discussed. Twenty-one of them also had a cochlear hearing loss. By means of white noise generators or hearing aids and a specific acoustic training the auditory input to the central nervous system was increased. All patients were taught a method to reduce stress (Progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson). Uncomfortable loudness levels were analysed before as well as 3 weeks and 6 months after beginning of the treatment. RESULTS: By the time of 3 weeks the discomfort from ordinary sounds was distinctly reduced and the reduction progressed further after 6 months of treatment. In more than 50% of the participants the uncomfortable loudness levels could be raised to a normal range. Interestingly the improvement of hyperacusis was independent of an existing hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: The described method of treatment seems to be helpful for patients with hyperacusis and will be compared to other therapeutical regimes.