The effects of photobiomodulation therapy in individuals with tinnitus and without hearing loss.

To verify the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in individuals with chronic tinnitus without hearing loss, 20 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into group 1: active low-level laser (LLL) and group 2: equipment without laser (placebo). Upon anamnesis, data collection, and audiological exams, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Visual-Analog Scale (EVA) were applied to measure the level of discomfort with tinnitus and the level of discomfort before and after laser treatment. The protocol used included 12 active LLL sessions for group 1 and not active for group 2, varying red and infrared wavelengths. There was a reduction in the disadvantage of individuals with tinnitus after the intervention and between the initial and final sessions, regardless of the intervention, although group 1 showed a greater reduction than group 2, regardless of point in time of assessment and number of session. There was no statistical difference as to group and point in time for the high-frequency audiometry and acuphenometry outcomes. Individuals with chronic tinnitus reduced the complaint, regardless of point in time and group of intervention; however, the group that received PBMT improved the level of satisfaction, regardless of point in time of assessment and number of session.

Photobiomodulation Therapy in Hearing Related Aspects: an Integrative Bibliometric Study.

INTRODUCTION: In the last decades have been increasing cases of inner ear disorders and among them is included hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, on that way the demand for new treatments is growing, with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) being a highly targeted treatment due to its non-invasive nature. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate the studies of low level laser (LLL) and audiology in recent years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The quantitative bibliometric study was performed by searching scientific articles in the Web of Science - Clarivate Analytics database. The association of the words "low level laser therapy" and "hearing" was used to construct the sample. RESULTS: The most recurrent objectives analyzed the action of LLLT regarding its effectiveness, with predominantly positive results in the effectiveness of the treatment of hearing problems such as hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo. CONCLUSIONS: LLL is a great tool for professionals who take care of human hearing, helping in the recovery of patients with hearing problems in a noninvasive or drug way, thus improving the functions in which the TBLI is applied.

The applicability of the Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) in the differentiation of tinnitus and hearing complaints. / Aplicabilidade do Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) na diferenciação de queixas auditivas.

PURPOSE: To verify the applicability of the Tinnitus and Hearing Survey (THS) to measure the different complaints of tinnitus, hearing loss and sound tolerance. METHODS: THS was performed, composed of 4 questions about tinnitus, 4 about hearing loss and one about sound tolerance. Previously, all participants performed a battery of audiological diagnostic tests and were then divided into 4 groups: Bilateral normal audiometry with mean up to 25dB, with and without tinnitus complaint (Groups 1 and 3); diagnosis of mild to moderate neural sensory hearing loss (26dB to 60dB), no previous use of individual hearing aids, complaining of chronic tinnitus (≥6 months) and individuals without tinnitus complaints (Groups 2 and 4); and age ≥18 years old. RESULTS: Seventy subjects were included in the present study. Regarding the analysis of the total between the groups by the Kruskal-Wallis test, significant differences were found in the sections about tinnitus and hearing loss, but there was no significance in the section regarding sound tolerance. Regarding the questions in Section A of the THS, only Groups 3 and 4 scored the highest. Regarding the questions related to Section B about hearing loss, the groups without hearing loss (Groups 1 and 3) scored the lowest. In relation to the question of the THS in Section C, Group 3 scored the highest. CONCLUSIONS: The THS questionnaire proved to be a useful, quick and simple tool to assist the audiologist in the understanding and differentiation of the audiologic complaints.

OBJETIVO: verificar a aplicabilidade do THS em mensurar e diferenciar as queixas de zumbido, perda auditiva e tolerância ao som. MÉTODO: Foi aplicado o questionário THS, composto por 4 questões sobre zumbido, 4 sobre perda auditiva e 1 sobre tolerância ao som. Previamente, todos os participantes realizaram uma bateria de exames de diagnóstico audiológico e foram divididos em grupos: audição normal bilateral com média até 25dB, com e sem queixa de zumbido (Grupos 1 e 3); diagnóstico de perda auditiva sensório neural de grau leve a moderado (26dB a 60dB), sem uso prévio de aparelho de amplificação sonora Individual (AASI), com queixa de zumbido crônico (≥6 meses) e também indivíduos sem queixa de zumbido (Grupos 2 e 4); idade igual ou superior a 18 anos. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos no presente estudo 70 indivíduos. Em relação a análise do total entre os grupos pelo teste Kruskal-Wallis foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas seções sobre zumbido e perda auditiva, mas não houve significância da seção sobre tolerância ao som. Em relação às questões sobre zumbido apenas os grupos 3 e 4 pontuaram. Quanto às questões referentes à perda auditiva, os grupos sem perda (grupos 1 e 3) foram os que menos pontuaram. Em relação a questão do THS sobre tolerância ao som, o grupo 3 foi o que mais pontuou. CONCLUSÃO: o questionário THS se mostrou como uma possível ferramenta para auxiliar na compreensão e diferenciação das queixas auditivas.

Tinnitus and hearing survey: cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese.

INTRODUCTION: Hearing loss is associated with several comorbidities and may be frequently associated with tinnitus. When patients complain of both tinnitus and hearing difficulties in audiology and otolaryngology clinics, there, is often great difficulty separating the two complaints. The tinnitus and hearing survey was specially developed for this purpose to identify the main complaint and help direct the choice of appropriate intervention. OBJECTIVE: To translate and culturally adapt the tinnitus and hearing survey for the Brazilian-Portuguese. METHODS: Seventy patients who had previously completed a battery of audiological diagnostic exams were invited to complete the tinnitus and hearing survey and were categorized into four groups: normal hearing without tinnitus, normal hearing with tinnitus, hearing loss without tinnitus, and hearing loss with tinnitus. Cultural adaptation of tinnitus and hearing survey followed the steps indicated by Guillemin et al. (1993), including assessment of inter-researchers' reproducibility, internal consistency, and reliability of the instrument. RESULTS: There were no substantial changes to the content of the tinnitus and hearing survey questions, although a few adaptations were made to two-item sound tolerance section to facilitate participants' understanding. Internal consistency and reliability tested by Cronbach's α was considered good for all domains. The reproducibility of the tinnitus and hearing survey was measured by the Kappa coefficient at two different moments and agreement between evaluators 1 and 2 was considered almost perfect, indicating good reproducibility. CONCLUSION: The tinnitus and hearing survey was culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese and analyzed for internal consistency, reliability, and reproducibility. Results support this questionnaire as a useful tool to help professionals differentiate the main complaint of the individual, allowing the choice of a more appropriate intervention.