[Open-field treatment of hyperacusis]. / Tratamiento de la hiperacusia en campo abierto.

OBJECTIVE: Prospective study of the effectiveness of treatment in patients with hyperacusis by means of an open-field technique of acoustic treatment with nature sounds. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 34 patients were referred to a tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic at a private Otorhinolaryngology Department. Clinical and exploratory ENT studies were performed. Open-field nature sounds were applied by means of a compact disk for half an hour each day during a period of several weeks. RESULTS: By the end of treatment, the 34 patients studied had reached normal discomfort thresholds in a maximum of 9 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The progressive open-field application of nature sounds has been effective in eliminating hyperacusis in a short space of time.

Sulpiride plus hydroxyzine decrease tinnitus perception.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to confirm the effectiveness of sulpiride and hydroxyzine in tinnitus patients. The administration of sulpiride, a D2 antagonist of dopamine receptors, together with hydroxyzine, a subcortical sedative, covers the areas of tinnitus perception. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, single blinded, placebo-control study was done in general otorhinolaryngology consultations for 2002-2004 in Seville and Zaragoza (Spain). One hundred and fifty patients consulted for subjective tinnitus. They were included randomly in three groups of 50. A group took sulpiride (50 mg/8 h) alone, other the same dose of sulpiride plus hydroxyzine (25 mg/12 h), and the third placebo (lactose), for 1 month. One hundred and twenty-two patients completed the study. Clinical history, tonal audiometry, tympanometry, and tinnitometry were done in the beginning and end of the study. Subjective Grading of Tinnitus Perception and visual analogical scale (0-10) were done for result evaluation. RESULTS: Based on the Subjective Grading of Tinnitus Perception, tinnitus perception diminished by 56% in patients treated with sulpiride and by 81% in patients treated with sulpiride plus hydroxyzine. Based on the visual analogical scale, tinnitus perception diminished from 7.8 to 6.3 in the patients treated with sulpiride, and from 7.8 to 5.1 in those treated with sulpiride plus hydroxyzine. CONCLUSIONS: Sulpiride plus hydroxyzine decreases tinnitus perception. Tinnitus auditolimbic dopaminergic pathway opens wide therapeutical implications.

Tratamiento de la hiperacusia en campo abierto / Open-field treatment of hyperacusis

Objetivo. Estudio prospectivo de la eficacia del tratamiento de pacientes con hiperacusia mediante técnica de tratamiento acústico con sonidos de la naturaleza en campo abierto. Material y métodos. Acudieron 34 pacientes a consulta de acufenos e hiperacusia de una unidad de otorrinolaringología de una clínica privada. Se realizó estudio otorrinolaringológico clínico y exploratorio. Se aplican sonidos de la naturaleza mediante un disco compacto en campo abierto, media hora al día y durante varias semanas de duración. Resultados. Al finalizar el tratamiento, los 34 pacientes estudiados consiguieron unos umbrales de malestar normales en un plazo máximo de 9 semanas. Conclusiones. La aplicación progresiva de sonidos de la naturaleza en campo abierto ha sido efectiva a corto plazo para eliminar la hiperacusia

Objective. Prospective study of the effectiveness of treatment in patients with hyperacusis by means of an open-field technique of acoustic treatment with nature sounds. Material and methods. 34 patients were referred to a tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic at a private Otorhinolaryngology Department. Clinical and exploratory ENT studies were performed. Open-field nature sounds were applied by means of a compact disk for half an hour each day during a period of several weeks. Results. By the end of treatment, the 34 patients studied had reached normal discomfort thresholds in a maximum of 9 weeks. Conclusions. The progressive open-field application of nature sounds has been effective in eliminating hyperacusis in a short space of time