Evaluation of severe tinnitus patients after 6 months of treatment, including tinnitus retraining therapy

Forty-three patients (23 men, 20 women) complaining of severe tinnitus were seen at the Department of Otolaryngology, Nippon Koukan Hospital, and the Koukan Clinic during a six-month period starting in October 2003. We evaluated the recovery of tinnitus using a questionnire. The average scores for awareness of tinnitus loudness and level of annoyance improved after treatment with etizoram and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT). Both the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) score and the loudness balance test results improved in all five patients treated with TRT who were followed up after 6 months of treatment. Our results indicated that TRT was an effective treatment for tinnitus.