A Study on the Rehabilitation Effects of Tinnitus Counseling for Hearing Aid Users Who Suffer from Tinnitus

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tinnitus counseling in improving tinnitus symptoms among hearing-impaired individuals who use hearing aids and have reported difficulties due to tinnitus. Methods: Thirty participants completed the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), the tinnitus magnitude index (TMI), and a tinnitus knowledge questionnaire both before and after tinnitus rehabilitation counseling. A tinnitogram was also assessed. The tinnitus knowledge questionnaire was customized based on a preliminary survey that identified participants’ misconceptions or specific areas of interest regarding tinnitus, enabling targeted and informative counseling. Results: THI scores showed a statistically significant decrease, from a mean of 48.16 (standard deviation [SD], 27.1) to 41.66 (SD, 25.6), with an average reduction of 6.5 points (p = 0.000). Similarly, TMI scores showed a statistically significant reduction, from a mean of 20.7 (SD, 6.1) to 19.0 (SD, 6.58), with an average decrease of 1.7 points (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The findings support the efficacy of tinnitus rehabilitation counseling in alleviating tinnitus-related discomfort among individuals who have used hearing aids for over a year. While the reduction in THI scores was statistically significant, an analysis of the minimum clinically significant difference showed that only 33% of participants exhibited clinically meaningful improvement. Future studies should explore the benefits of continuous counseling for those who do not respond to a single session.