Comparison of Amplitude Modulated Sounds and Pure Tones at the Tinnitus Frequency: Residual Tinnitus Suppression and Stimulus Evaluation.
Patrick Neff, Lisa Zielonka, Martin Meyer and 3 others
PMID 30871419WHAT IT FOUND
Amplitude-modulated sounds produced a non-significant trend for stronger tinnitus suppression than pure tones at high loudness.
These sounds were rated significantly more pleasant than pure tones. The suppression effect was temporary, fading within three minutes of the stimulus ending.
Key findings
01A trend for stronger tinnitus suppression with amplitude-modulated sounds versus pure tones at 60 dB SL did not reach statistical significance.
02Amplitude-modulated sounds were rated significantly more pleasant than pure tones at 60 dB SL.
03Tinnitus suppression was strongest immediately after the sound stopped and faded toward normal loudness within three minutes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Five participants did not actually have bilateral tinnitus despite reporting it, meaning the sample was not entirely homogeneous. The sounds were presented to both ears simultaneously, so it is unclear if the results apply to unilateral tinnitus or if one ear is dominant. A presentation order effect occurred, where the sequence of the sounds influenced the results. The study only measured immediate effects for three minutes, so it cannot determine if these sounds help over longer periods. Amplitude-modulated sounds create side frequencies that pure tones do not, so it is unclear if the suppression is due to the modulation itself or the extra sound energy.
Declared interests
The study was supported by non-U.S. government funds. The authors did not declare any specific conflicts of interest in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that amplitude-modulated sounds are superior to pure tones for tinnitus suppression. The difference in suppression was a non-significant trend, and the only significant finding was that the sounds were more pleasant.