Cochleural Alternating Acoustic Beam Therapy (CAABT) Versus Masking Intervention for Tinnitus

Cochleural Alternating Acoustic Beam Therapy Versus Masking Intervention for Tinnitus: A Randomised Controlled Trial

This study is to compare the effectiveness of CAABT and masking therapy in the management of subjective tinnitus in adults.Half of participants will receive CAABT, while the other half will receive masking therapy.

Masking intervention was a standard monophone tinnitus masking therapy. It was usually a narrow-band noise matched with tinnitus frequency (Tf).

CAABT was an innovative tinnitus intervention which based on neural science and cochlear plastic research and aimed to reprogram the central auditory system to neutralize the discordant responses of the dysfunctioning cochlea via acoustic beaming stimuli.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Unilateral tinnitus
• Ages between 18-80 years
• Tinnitus undergone for more than 6 months
• Hearing loss of the tinnitus ear not affect communication
• The main tinnitus frequency is less than 8 KHz
• Primary tinnitus

Exclusion Criteria:

• Secondary tinnitus
• Hyperacusis
• Patients were accepting any therapy about tinnitus
• Those who have serious mental illness
• Patients who can't fit the audiological examination and tinnitus tests
• Most of the hearing loss in the middle and severe hearing loss of the tinnitus ear
• Any MRI contraindications