Studies on evaluation and treatment of tinnitus. Factors affecting effect of masker therapy

The effect of band noise masking on persistent tinnitus was investigated in 191 patients. The effect of tinnitus masker was evaluated by the patient's complaints after two hours' masking. The causes of tinnitus in eluded pesbycusis, nose dnduced deafness, endlymphatic hydrops, sudden deafness sensorineural deafness of unknown etiology.The band noise masker was most effective on tinnitus due to presbycusis. Other influential factors in the effect of the tinnitus masker were age and hearing level at the tinnitus frequency. The suppression of tinnitus was more prominent in older patients and the patients whose hearing levels of the tinnitus frequencies were less than 30dBHL.