Effectiveness of hearing aids in treating patients with chronic tinnitus with average hearing levels of <30 dBHL and no inconvenience due to hearing loss

Background: The effectiveness of hearing aids for tinnitus patients without hearing loss in conversation-comprehension range and inconvenience in daily communication is unknown. Objective: We aimed to evaluate their therapeutic effect. Materials and methods: We included 91 patients with average hearing levels <30 dBHL. To determine the effects, self-reported questionnaires were used. Data were collected at the entry and 3 months (n = 91) and 1 year (n = 70) after treatment initiation. Results: All scores (mean ± standard deviation) decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) from before treatment to 3 months and 1 year after treatment: tinnitus handicap inventory score: from 56 ± 21 to 17 ± 17 and 13 ± 15; visual analogue scale (VAS) score for tinnitus loudness: from 71 ± 20 to 31 ± 26 and 28 ± 29; VAS score for tinnitus annoyance: 79 ± 20 to 27 ± 25 and 26 ± 30, respectively. Approximately 90% of patients noticed improvements in tinnitus annoyance and loudness, as determined by the questionnaires regarding subjective symptom improvement. Conclusions: Hearing aids may be useful for tinnitus patients without hearing loss and inconvenience in daily communication. Significance: Our findings provide a treatment option for tinnitus patients with an average hearing level of <30 dBHL.