Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Conventional hearing aid amplification, notch therapy, or increased gain at tinnitus pitch : a randomised controlled multicentre study

Waechter, Sebastian LU ; Timmer, Barbra H.B. ; Olovsson, Maria ; Pettersson, Petter ; Frawley, Lorelei ; Ibertsson, Tina LU ; Thorén, Elisabet Sundewall LU and Jönsson, Anders LU (2025) In International Journal of Audiology
Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether modifying hearing aid gain at the individual’s tinnitus pitch augments tinnitus mitigation from hearing aid amplification. Design: Participants were randomised to receive hearing aids delivering either objectively verified Conventional Amplification (n = 36), Increased Gain at Tinnitus Pitch (n = 36), or eliminated gain at tinnitus pitch, so-called Notch Therapy (n = 36). Perceived tinnitus loudness, tinnitus distress, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, were examined at baseline (before hearing aid fitting), and after 3 and 12 months of hearing aid use, respectively. Forty-seven participants also underwent a speech recognition threshold test after 3 months hearing aid use. Study Sample: Adults... (More)

Objective: To investigate whether modifying hearing aid gain at the individual’s tinnitus pitch augments tinnitus mitigation from hearing aid amplification. Design: Participants were randomised to receive hearing aids delivering either objectively verified Conventional Amplification (n = 36), Increased Gain at Tinnitus Pitch (n = 36), or eliminated gain at tinnitus pitch, so-called Notch Therapy (n = 36). Perceived tinnitus loudness, tinnitus distress, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, were examined at baseline (before hearing aid fitting), and after 3 and 12 months of hearing aid use, respectively. Forty-seven participants also underwent a speech recognition threshold test after 3 months hearing aid use. Study Sample: Adults experiencing chronic tinnitus for ≥3 months (n = 108). Results: Tinnitus distress decreased significantly in all groups after hearing aid fitting. No significant outcome measures differences between groups were found, except for speech intelligibility benefit with hearing aids. Greater speech intelligibility benefit was observed with conventional hearing aid amplification compared to Increased Gain at Tinnitus Pitch (p =.022) or Notch Therapy (p =.009). Conclusions: We recommend conventional, objectively verified, hearing aid amplification for tinnitus patients, as it has the ability to optimally simultaneously improve both tinnitus symptoms and speech intelligibility.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Amplification, Hearing aids, Speech intelligibility, Tinnitus
in
International Journal of Audiology
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:105013771004
ISSN
1499-2027
DOI
10.1080/14992027.2025.2544152
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
68683e23-9ca6-4ea3-b917-94f3e1bc09d4
date added to LUP
2025-11-19 09:12:09
date last changed
2025-11-19 09:13:00
@article{68683e23-9ca6-4ea3-b917-94f3e1bc09d4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: To investigate whether modifying hearing aid gain at the individual’s tinnitus pitch augments tinnitus mitigation from hearing aid amplification. Design: Participants were randomised to receive hearing aids delivering either objectively verified Conventional Amplification (n = 36), Increased Gain at Tinnitus Pitch (n = 36), or eliminated gain at tinnitus pitch, so-called Notch Therapy (n = 36). Perceived tinnitus loudness, tinnitus distress, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, were examined at baseline (before hearing aid fitting), and after 3 and 12 months of hearing aid use, respectively. Forty-seven participants also underwent a speech recognition threshold test after 3 months hearing aid use. Study Sample: Adults experiencing chronic tinnitus for ≥3 months (n = 108). Results: Tinnitus distress decreased significantly in all groups after hearing aid fitting. No significant outcome measures differences between groups were found, except for speech intelligibility benefit with hearing aids. Greater speech intelligibility benefit was observed with conventional hearing aid amplification compared to Increased Gain at Tinnitus Pitch (p =.022) or Notch Therapy (p =.009). Conclusions: We recommend conventional, objectively verified, hearing aid amplification for tinnitus patients, as it has the ability to optimally simultaneously improve both tinnitus symptoms and speech intelligibility.</p>}},
  author       = {{Waechter, Sebastian and Timmer, Barbra H.B. and Olovsson, Maria and Pettersson, Petter and Frawley, Lorelei and Ibertsson, Tina and Thorén, Elisabet Sundewall and Jönsson, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1499-2027}},
  keywords     = {{Amplification; Hearing aids; Speech intelligibility; Tinnitus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Audiology}},
  title        = {{Conventional hearing aid amplification, notch therapy, or increased gain at tinnitus pitch : a randomised controlled multicentre study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2025.2544152}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14992027.2025.2544152}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}