Speech Therapy Counseling: a unique and personalized format for subjects with chronic tinnitus

Introduction: Tinnitus is an auditory perception in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus. As it is growing in the audiological clinic, it is necessary to seek fast and effective treatment strategies. Objective: To verify the result of a unique format of Speech Therapy Counseling in the tinnitus perception reduction. Methods: Prospective and transversal study, registered under number 776111417.5.0000.5346, composed by convenience. The eligibility criteria included subjects from 18 to 59 years old, with normal hearing thresholds and chronic tinnitus, Visual Analogue Scale (EVA) at least grade five and with no history of neurological and / or psychiatric diseases. They were submitted to anamnesis, EVA and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) before and after treatment. For treatment, a division into two groups was performed randomly. One, called the Speech Therapy Counseling Group (target group), received Speech Therapy Counseling (personalized and written) based on the Tinnitus Activities Treatment and guidelines were also added regarding metabolic and muscular changes, eating habits, among others. Another, Music Group, was instructed to listen to music when noticing the symptom. After one month, EVA and THI were reapplied. Results: 11 subjects of both genders participated. The target group showed improvement and statistically significant differences before and after treatment. Conclusion: Speech therapy counseling in a unique and personalized format proved to be effective in reducing the perception of the symptom and can thus be implemented in different hearing centers.