Plasticidade neural: utilização do treinamento auditivo como opção terapêutica para o zumbido

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of auditory training on auditory attention and tinnitus perception. Method: Non-randomized controlled clinical trial with 20 volunteers with tinnitus, aged between 18 and 59 years, divided into a study group and a control group. Evaluations included the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), hyperacusis questionnaire, basic audiological assessment (otoscopy, pure-tone and speech audiometry, and immittance testing), high-frequency audiometry, tinnitus pitch and loudness matching (acuphenometry), and Central Auditory Processing tests (GIN, PPS, SSI, DD, and FR). Computer-based auditory training was conducted using the software “Afinando o Cérebro” over 8 sessions (2 sessions per week), each lasting 40 minutes. Re-evaluation was performed 7 days after the end of auditory training. Results: A reduction in THI scores was observed post-intervention, except in the functional domain. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found in post-intervention THI and VAS scores. The auditory skills of figure-ground discrimination, auditory closure (right ear), temporal resolution, binaural integration, and binaural separation (right ear) showed improvement in the post-test compared to the pre-test. Conclusion: Auditory training was a positive intervention, reducing the severity and discomfort caused by tinnitus in the studied sample. Statistical analyses demonstrated a reduction in total, emotional, functional, and catastrophic THI scores, as well as in the VAS discomfort rating.