The Effect of Mild-gain Amplification on Tinnitus Perception in Normal Hearing Adults

This study investigated the effect of mild gain amplification (8dB covering 1 Hz to 8kHz) as tinnitus treatment for participants with normal hearing and compared these effects with an active placebo condition using hearing aids without amplification in a double-blinded crossover study. 12 participants with normal hearing and chronic tinnitus were included in the study. Two different hearing aid treatments were provided for 3 weeks each: mild gain amplification that provided 8dB gain in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 8 kHz and no amplification, acting as placebo. The effect of the two treatments on tinnitus distress was evaluated with the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) questionnaire. The effect of the treatment on tinnitus loudness and annoyance were evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS).