Efficacy differences and predictors of personalized mixed acoustic therapy in chronic tinnitus patients with and without hearing loss

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized mixed acoustic therapy (narrow-band noise combined with music) in patients with chronic tinnitus, comparing those with and without hearing loss (HL vs. NHL), and to identify baseline predictors of treatment response.

Personalized mixed acoustic therapy (narrow-band noise + music) shows efficacy signals for chronic tinnitus, with hearing loss status as a potential outcome predictor — clinicians may consider this approach but should await larger controlled trials before broadly changing protocols.

Identifying predictors of tinnitus treatment response could help audiologists personalize sound therapy and improve outcomes for the large and heterogeneous tinnitus patient population.

1. 01Personalized mixed acoustic therapy combined narrow-band noise with music tailored to the individual patient.
2. 02Study compared tinnitus outcomes in patients with comorbid hearing loss versus those with normal hearing.
3. 03Hearing loss status appears to be a predictor of therapy response.
4. 04Addresses a gap in tinnitus management by focusing on treatment personalization.
5. 05Published in Frontiers in Neurology; evidence level and sample size details require review for full appraisal.

PMID

42459854

DOI

10.3389/fneur.2026.1889942.

Journal

Frontiers in Neurology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Adults with chronic tinnitus, subgrouped by presence or absence of comorbid hearing loss

Intervention

Personalized mixed acoustic therapy (narrow-band noise combined with music)

Comparator

Tinnitus patients without hearing loss (subgroup comparison); no sham or active control explicitly stated