Tinnitus: Diagnosis and Management.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate whether melatonin could help with sleep disturbances in patients with tinnitus.
Results Summary
The abstract suggests melatonin may help with sleep disturbance in tinnitus patients, but evidence is inconclusive and not strongly supported by the study.
Population
Patients with tinnitus experiencing sleep disturbances.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cognitive behavior therapy | increase | quality of life | patients with tinnitus | - | has been shown to improve | #1 |
Sound therapy | no change | - | - | - | evidence is inconclusive | #2 |
Tinnitus retraining therapy | no change | - | - | - | evidence is inconclusive | #3 |
Melatonin | decrease | sleep disturbance | - | - | may help with | #4 |
Antidepressants | decrease | mood disorders | - | - | may help with | #5 |
Cognitive training | decrease | cognitive impairments | - | - | may help with | #6 |
Avoidance of noise exposure | decrease | development or progression of tinnitus | - | - | may help prevent | #7 |
Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing a sound in the absence of an internal or external source and is a common problem encountered in primary care. Most cases of tinnitus are benign and idiopathic and are strongly associated with sensorineural hearing loss. A standard workup begins with a targeted history and physical examination to identify treatable causes and associated symptoms that may improve with treatment. Less common but potentially dangerous causes such as vascular tumors and vestibular schwannoma should be ruled out. A comprehensive audiologic evaluation should be performed for patients who experience unilateral tinnitus, tinnitus that has been present for six months or longer, or that is accompanied by hearing problems. Neuroimaging is not part of the standard workup unless the tinnitus is asymmetric or unilateral, pulsatile, associated with focal neurologic abnormalities, or associated with asymmetric hearing loss. Cognitive behavior therapy is the only treatment that has been shown to improve quality of life in patients with tinnitus. Sound therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy are treatment options, but evidence is inconclusive. Melatonin, antidepressants, and cognitive training may help with sleep disturbance, mood disorders, and cognitive impairments, respectively. Avoidance of noise exposure may help prevent the development or progression of tinnitus. Providing information about the natural progression of tinnitus and being familiar with the causes that warrant additional evaluation, imaging, and specialist involvement are essential to comprehensive care.