Sound therapy for cochlear implant users with tinnitus

Abstract

Objective

Despite the positive effect of a cochlear implant (CI) on tinnitus in many patients, tinnitus remains a problem for a significant proportion of CI users. We investigated the acceptability and effect of sound therapy (a combination of natural background sounds and one concise tinnitus counselling session) on tinnitus and speech perception in CI users who still experienced tinnitus during CI use.

Design and study sample

Thirty-two CI users (32–78 years) participated in phase 1: a test at the clinic to evaluate six background sounds provided by the sound processor. Eighteen out of the 32 CI users participated in phase 2: an optional take-home evaluation of 2 weeks without sound therapy, followed by 5 weeks with sound therapy, ending with an evaluation visit.

Results

Thirty subjects (93.8%) found at least one background sound acceptable. In phase 2, a small improvement with sound therapy was found for tinnitus loudness, annoyance, and intrusiveness. 50% of the subjects subjectively reported benefit of sound therapy. Especially the sense of control on their tinnitus was highly appreciated. No detrimental effect on speech perception was observed.

Conclusion

The background sounds were acceptable and provided tinnitus relief in some CI users with tinnitus during CI use.

Keywords:

• Background sounds
• cochlear implant
• speech perception
• tinnitus

Acknowledgements

We want to thank Prof. Dr. R.S. Tyler and Prof. Dr. P. van Dijk, (former) members, of the American Tinnitus Association Scientific Advisory Committee, for their contribution to the early design of this study. Statistical support was provided by A.M.L. Janssen, statistician at the Department of Methodology and Statistics, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Disclosure statement

K.A., M.K., and R.A. are employees at Cochlear Corporation. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The study was sponsored by Cochlear™. K.A. received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant [agreement number 764604].