Intervention for restricted dynamic range and reduced sound tolerance

• Published in: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2007-05, Vol.121 (5_Supplement), p.3120-3120
• Main Authors: Hawley, Monica, Sherlock, LaGuinn, Gold, Susan, Segar, Allyson, Gmitter, Christine, Cannavo, Justine, Formby, Craig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0001-4966; 1520-8524
• DOI: 10.1121/1.4782090

Hyperacusis is the intolerance to sound levels that normally are judged acceptable to others. The presence of hyperacusis (diagnosed or undiagnosed) can be an important reason that some persons reject their hearing aids. Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), originally proposed for the treatment of persons with debilitating tinnitus, offers the significant secondary benefit of increased loudness discomfort levels (LDLs) in many persons. TRT involves both counseling and the daily exposure to soft sound from bilateral noise generator devices (NGs). We implemented a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy of TRT as an intervention for reduced sound tolerance in hearing-aid eligible persons with hyperacusis and/or restricted dynamic ranges. Subjects were assigned to one of four treatment groups: (1) full treatment, both counseling and NGs, (2) counseling with placebo NGs, (3) NGs without counseling, and (4) placebo NGs without counseling. They were evaluated at least monthly, typically for 5 months or more, on a variety of audiometric tests, including LDLs, the contour test for loudness for tones and speech, word recognition measured at each session’s comfortable and loud levels, and on electrophysiological measures. We will present interim results and selected examples of positive treatment effects. [Work supported by NIH R01 DC04678.]