Influence of Hearing Loss on the Efficacy of Customized Music Therapy in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the influence of hearing loss on the efficacy of personalized and customized music therapy in patients with chronic tinnitus. Methods A total of 147 patients with chronic tinnitus were included in the research; according to the pure‐tone average (PTA) test results (PTA at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz), the patients were classified into three groups: PTA ≤ 25 dB (normal hearing), 25 < PTA ≤ 60 dB (mild to moderate hearing loss), and PTA > 60 dB (severe hearing loss); all patients have received personalized and customized music therapy for 3 months. Electronic questionnaires of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS‐A, HADS‐D), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Insomnia Severity Index Scale (ISI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) in the complete follow‐up system were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects on the efficacy of music therapy. Results The results showed that HADS‐A, HADS‐D, THI, ISI, and VAS scores after 3 months of therapy were lower than those before treatment in the PTA ≤ 25 dB group ( p < 0.001). While HADS‐A, THI, ISI, and VAS scores were decreased after 3 months of therapy in the 25 < PTA ≤ 60 dB group ( p < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in HADS‐A, HADS‐D, THI, ISI, and VAS scores between before and after therapy within 3 months in the PTA > 60 dB group ( p > 0.05). Besides, the more severe the hearing loss, the less improvement in tinnitus‐related symptoms after music therapy for 3 months. Conclusions Personalized and customized music therapy is effective for chronic tinnitus patients with normal hearing or mild to moderate hearing loss. Hearing loss levels exerted an impact on the efficacy of personalized music therapy; the efficacy of patients with severe hearing loss is worse than that of patients with normal hearing or mild to moderate hearing loss. Appropriate hearing remedial therapy is essential to improve the efficacy of personalized, customized music therapy before receiving music therapy.