|
Name of treatment |
Hearing aid/s |
|
Type of treatment |
Physical device |
|
Claims for treatment |
Reduce tinnitus symptoms by a number of means. |
|
How treatment is delivered |
In-ear amplification device in one or both ears |
|
Potential negative consequences |
Regarded as safe |
Evidence offered: |
|
|
Papers available |
1 (considered in Cochrane Review)[1] However, PubMed database has 14 papers with both ‘tinnitus’ and ‘hearing aid’ in the title. |
|
Conclusions drawn |
Whilst hearing aids are sometimes prescribed as part of tinnitus management, there is currently no evidence to support or refute their use as a more routine intervention for tinnitus.1 |
|
Quality of evidence[2] |
A |
|
Does the BTA recommend this treatment? |
Yes, if the patient has hearing loss |
|
BTA opinion on this treatment: |
Hearing aids are beneficial for those with hearing loss, although evidence of effectiveness for tinnitus management is lacking. |
|
Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment? |
Yes, provided the study is of high quality. |
|
Verdict: Safety – is this treatment harmful? |
|
|
Verdict: Efficacy – does this treatment work? |
|
[1] Hoare DJ, Edmondson‐Jones M, Sereda M, Akeroyd MA, Hall D. Amplification with hearing aids for patients with tinnitus and co‐existing hearing loss. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD010151. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010151.pub2.
[2] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands
Download this information:
Tinnitus_and_hearing_aids_April_2019.pdf
Published 15 April 2019
Information currently under review April 2022
Image by Petra Blume from Pixabay
