A Three-arm, Single-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Effects of Notched Music Therapy, Conventional Music Therapy, and Counseling on Tinnitus

Objective: To compare the efficacy of three common interventions for tinnitus patients: notched music therapy, conventional music therapy, and counseling.

Study Design: Randomized, single-blinded, controlled, three-arm trial.

Method: This study was conducted from January 2018 to January 2019. Eligible subjects were randomized into three groups. The first group received notched music therapy (n = 25), the second received conventional music therapy (n = 24), and the third received counseling only (n = 26). The three groups did not differ in terms of demographic data including age, sex, tinnitus duration, affected side, hearing level, side of tinnitus, and frequency of tinnitus. The patients were followed up on at month 1, 2, and 3 after initiation of therapy.

Results: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores gradually decreased in all groups. The mean differences in Tinnitus Handicap Inventory score from baseline for patients who received notched music therapy, conventional music therapy, and counseling only were 20.49, 27.83, and 17.79 points, respectively (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference among the groups (p = 0.246).

Conclusion: There was no difference between the treatments. The selection of these therapies for tinnitus treatment may depend on the unique needs and proclivities of patients.

Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.in.th/TCTR20180225002.