Sound therapy (sound enrichment)
Sound therapy is an audio treatment that reduces the perception of tinnitus.
Treatment details
Type
Education and sound therapy
Safety
Regarded as safe
Efficacy
No or limited evidence that it is effective
Recommended?
Speak to your GP
Claims for treatment
The maker claims that it reduces the perception of tinnitus. This may be via reducing intrusiveness, aiding habituation, distracting attention or triggering neuroplasticity within the brain.
What is the treatment?
The treatment is sound therapy via device (either hearing aid, sound generator or combination hearing aid), external device (CD player, MP3 player, mobile phone) or environmental sound.
The treatment patterns vary as to number of sessions, duration of sessions and to type of sound used.
What are the downsides of this treatment?
The treatment is regarded as safe[1].
The cost, if accessed proprietary device or tailored sound used.
Has there been research into this treatment?
Yes, including several systematic reviews.
What does the research say?
We did not find evidence to support or refute the provision of sound therapy as the primary intervention for people with tinnitus.
We did not find evidence to suggest that one type of sound therapy device (i.e. hearing aid, sound generator or combination hearing aid) is better than others.’ [1]
Current tinnitus management guidelines do not make strong recommendations regarding use of sound therapy [2-4] , and personal preference should play a part in the choice of this management option.
There is limited evidence to support the use of sound therapy, but some people may find it useful, especially for acute tinnitus relief.
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Give what you canAll online references accessed 3 July 2024 unless noted.
1. Sereda M, Xia J, El Refaie A, Hall DA, Hoare DJ. Sound therapy (using am-plification devices and/or sound generators) for tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018, Issue 12. Art. No.:CD013094.DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD013094.pub2
2. Cima RFF, Mazurek B, Haider H et al. A multidisciplinary European guideline for tinnitus: diagnostics, assessment, and treatment. HNO 67 (2019). 10–42
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00106-019-0633-7
3. Tunkel DE, Bauer CA, Sun GH et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2014). Vol 151 Issue 2. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599814545325
4. National Guideline Centre (UK). Tinnitus: assessment and management. (2020). Mar. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng155