Tinnitus Management & Treatment Flashcards

Which of the following best describes notched music therapy for tinnitus?

Answer: Music with energy removed at the tinnitus frequency to reduce lateral inhibition

Notched music therapy removes acoustic energy at the tinnitus frequency to reduce excitation of neurons at that frequency through lateral inhibition and neural plasticity.

When counseling a new tinnitus patient, what percentage of adults with chronic tinnitus are estimated to experience significant distress requiring clinical intervention?

Answer: About 20%

While up to 15% of adults experience chronic tinnitus, only approximately 20% of those find it significantly bothersome enough to require clinical management.

A hearing aid dispenser fitting a patient with tinnitus and bilateral high-frequency hearing loss should prioritize which feature when selecting a hearing aid?

Answer: Open-fit or receiver-in-canal style to maintain natural ambient sound entry

Open-fit or RIC styles allow low-frequency ambient sounds to enter naturally, providing passive sound enrichment that reduces tinnitus prominence.

Which psychological comorbidity is most frequently associated with clinically significant tinnitus distress?

Answer: Anxiety and depression

Anxiety and depression are the most common psychological comorbidities in patients with clinically distressing tinnitus, often requiring co-management with mental health professionals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for tinnitus primarily targets which aspect of the patient's experience?

Answer: Negative thoughts and emotional reactions to tinnitus

CBT does not reduce tinnitus loudness but effectively reduces the distress and negative cognitive reactions that make tinnitus debilitating.

What is the minimum masking level (MML) used to assess in tinnitus evaluation?

Answer: The lowest intensity of a masking noise required to cover the tinnitus

Minimum masking level is the lowest intensity of an external masking sound needed to make tinnitus inaudible, providing a functional measure of tinnitus loudness.

Under ASHA and AAA guidelines, when should a hearing care provider refer a tinnitus patient to a physician?

Answer: When tinnitus is unilateral, pulsatile, associated with neurological symptoms, or suddenly onset

Red flag symptoms such as unilateral tinnitus, pulsatile character, neurological signs, or sudden onset warrant medical referral to rule out serious pathology.