Comparison of acoustic therapies for tinnitus suppression: a preliminary trial.

Objective: This study obtained preliminary data using two types of sound therapy to suppress tinnitus and/or reduce its functional effects: (1) Notched noise (1000-12,000 Hz notched within a 1-octave range centred around the tinnitus pitch match [PM] frequency); and (2) Matched noise (1-octave wide band of noise centred around the PM frequency). A third (Placebo) group listened to low frequency noise (250-700 Hz).

Design: Participants with bothersome tinnitus were randomised into one of the three groups and instructed to listen to the acoustic stimulus for 6 hours a day for 2 weeks.