Article

It has been suggested that frequency lowering may be a superior tinnitus
reducing digital signal processing (DSP) strategy in hearing aids than
conventional amplification.
A crossover trial was undertaken to determine if
frequency compression (FC) was superior to wide dynamic range compression (WDRC)
in reducing tinnitus. METHOD:
A 6-8-week crossover trial of two digital
signal-processing techniques (WDRC and 2 WDRC with FC) was undertaken in 16
persons with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss and chronic tinnitus.
RESULTS: WDRC resulted in larger improvements in Tinnitus Functional Index and
rating scale scores than WDRC with FC. The tinnitus improvements obtained with
both processing types appear to be due to reduced hearing handicap and possibly
decreased tinnitus audibility. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing aids are useful assistive
devices in the rehabilitation of tinnitus. FC was very successful in a few
individuals but was not superior to WDRC across the sample. It is recommended
that WDRC remain as the default first choice tinnitus hearing aid processing
strategy for tinnitus. FC should be considered as one of the many other options
for selection based on individual hearing needs. Implications of Rehabilitation
Hearing aids can significantly reduce the effects of tinnitus after 6-8 weeks of
use. Addition of frequency compression digital signal processing does not appear
superior to standard amplitude compression alone. Improvements in tinnitus were
correlated with reductions in hearing handicap.

Langue : ANGLAIS