Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ORL-JOURNAL FOR OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGY HEAD AND NECK SURGERY, cilt.75, sa.4, ss.211-220, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined hearing and tinnitus masking devices that are appropriately programmed for acoustic stimulations using wideband noise over the specific frequency range of tinnitus. Material and Methods: A total of 21 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group I (12 patients) was managed with betahistine dihydrochloride (2HCl) and fitted either with a combined hearing aid or a sound generator, and group II (9 patients) was treated with betahistine 2HCl for 3 months. Audiological tests, pitch matching to determine the frequency of tinnitus, an assessment of tinnitus severity, and subjective scores (visual analog scale, VAS; Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire) were used to assess the patients in both groups, and a loudness scale was also analyzed in group I. The results were evaluated in a double-blinded manner. Results: Significant decreases in the severity of tinnitus, Mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire score and VAS were observed in both groups. No significant differences were obtained in pitch-matched frequency of tinnitus in the two groups. Conclusion: The findings obtained using either the combined devices or the masking devices with wide-band masking demonstrate that these devices are an effective tinnitus treatment alternative. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel