A larger study by Lee et al. (2022) analyzed 116 patients with tinnitus and accompanying hearing loss. Sixty received hearing aids in combination with individual counseling, while 56 received counseling without hearing aids. At the start of the study, the groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, gender, duration of tinnitus, hearing loss, or tinnitus intensity. All participants underwent audiological examinations, were fitted with hearing aids using the NAL-NL2 method, and were regularly monitored.

The measurement instruments used were the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) questionnaire, and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). The VAS value ranged from 0 (no tinnitus) to 10 (maximum conceivable volume). The SADL value indicated how much the participants' satisfaction had changed (from 1 “not at all” to 7 “always or very often”). The THI value indicates the extent to which tinnitus affected the participants. The values range from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extreme limitation).

After three months, there was a significant reduction in tinnitus severity: in the hearing aid group, the VAS score fell from 7.4 ± 3.4 to 4.1 ± 3.1, and in the counseling group from 7.1 ± 2.9 to 4.2 ± 2.8 (p < 0.05). The THI scores of the hearing aid group improved from 21.5 ± 11.9 to 16.1 ± 8.2 for functional limitations, from 16.8 ± 8.5 to 11.8 ± 7.2 for emotional distress, and from 10.0 ± 4.6 to 6.7 ± 3.7 for catastrophic thoughts. Overall, 85% of patients in the hearing aid group reported at least partial improvement, compared to 73% in the counseling group. Analysis of the provision of single or bilateral hearing aids showed no significant differences in the results. The THI improvements correlated strongly with increased satisfaction with the use of hearing aids (r = 0.671, p < 0.05).

Another recent study by Sanders et al. (2023) examined 40 participants in New Zealand, including 21 new and 19 experienced hearing aid users. The THI was used secondarily here. The Tinnitus Functionality Index (TFI) was primarily used to measure the effects of tinnitus. The TFI also scales from 0 (low severity) to 100 (maximum severity). After a 12-week intervention with Oticon More 1 miniRITE R hearing aids and four tinnitus support programs, the median TFI score decreased from 49 (IQR = 40) to 26 (IQR = 26), representing a decrease of 24 points (p = 0.0001, d = 0.60). The “Auditory” and “Relaxation” subscales in particular improved by 32 points each. The THI score decreased from 40 (IQR = 33) to 23 (IQR = 27), which was also statistically significant (p = 0.0001, d = 0.61). More than half of the participants reported that at least half of their personal goals (COSIT) had been achieved, and experienced users tended to achieve greater improvements. The most frequently used program setting was pure amplification, followed by amplification plus tinnitus sound support.

These studies consistently show that hearing aids, especially when combined with counseling or tinnitus sound support, reduce the subjective burden of tinnitus, improve quality of life, and represent a reliable therapeutic option, regardless of whether patients have had previous experience with hearing aids.

Sources:

Lee, H. J., Kang, D. W., Yeo, S. G., & Kim, S. H. (2022). Hearing aid effects and satisfaction in patients with tinnitus. Journal of clinical medicine, 11(4), 1096. Source

Sanders, P. J., Nielsen, R. M., Jensen, J. J., & Searchfield, G. D. (2023). Hearing aids with tinnitus sound support reduce tinnitus severity for new and experienced hearing aid users. Frontiers in Audiology and Otology, 1, 1238164. Source