The Effect of 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise Technique on Tinnitus

The Effect of 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise Technique on Tinnitus Handicap, Psychological Factors, and Sleep Quality in Tinnitus Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of 4-7-8 breathing exercise on tinnitus handicap, psychological factors and sleep quality.

There will be a parallel-group randomized controlled trial study and consists of two groups.

Both groups will receive 1 hour of informative session on tinnitus and the experimental group will also perform 4-7-8 breathing exercises for 6 weeks. Visual analog scale, tinnitus handicap inventory, insomnia severity index, trait anxiety inventory, and perceived stress scale will be applied before and after the application.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of 4-7-8 breathing exercise technique on tinnitus handicap, psychological factors and sleep quality. It is also aimed to compare the results of the experimental group and those who received only 1 hour of informative session on tinnitus (Control group).

The study will employ a parallel-group randomized controlled trial design. Both groups will receive 1 hour of informative session on tinnitus and the experimental group will also perform 4-7-8 breathing exercises for 6 weeks.

Visual analog scale, tinnitus handicap inventory, insomnia severity index, trait anxiety inventory,and perceived stress scale will be applied to all patients before and after the application.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged between 18-65 years with subjective idiopathic tinnitus complaints for at least six months
• Must be able to speak and read Turkish
• Must be able to answer the questionnaire questions and perform the 4-7-8 breathing exercises regularly

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any neuro-otologic, psychiatric, neurologic, or cognitive problems, objective tinnitus, chronic medication use, asthma diagnosis or respiratory distress
• Receivement of any tinnitus treatment or tinnitus informative session actively