Abstract: Objective The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of compound sound therapy and provide guidance for clinical practice for patients with tinnitus and sudden deafness. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 112 patients with tinnitus and unilateral sudden deafness who were treated in our department between January 2017 and August 2020. Patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the treatment: 54 patients in the control group were treated with medical therapy, and 58 patients in the observation group were treated with medical therapy in addition to compound sound therapy. Clinical data were collected for age, sex, laterality, and duration. All patients received the pure-tone audiometry and tinnitus tests, including loudness and residual inhibition. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores were measured pre-and post-therapy. The compound sounds were remixed with noise/pure tone, natural sound, and music clips. The masking frequency of background sound was consistent with the tinnitus frequency of patients, and the main frequency of music clips covered the tinnitus frequency. Results The means of the pure tone hearing thresholds of the two groups after treatment were significantly lower at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment. The total effective rates of hearing in the control group were 53.7%, 77.8%, and 80.3%, and the rates in the observation group were 55.2%、75.9%、and 77.6% at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups(P>0.05). The THI, VAS, and SAS scores significantly decreased after treatment in both groups, The total effective rates of tinnitus in the observation group were 62.1% and 81.1%, which were significantly better than those in the control group, which were 53.7% and 59.3% at 1 month and 3 months after treatment, respectively. The highest effect was observed in the observation group at 3 months after the compound sound therapy. This effect was better than at 1 month post-treatment, and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with tinnitus and sudden deafness showed adaptations with compound sound therapy and acquired more benefits from extension of treatment duration.

Key words: Compound sound therapy, Tinnitus, Sudden deafness, Pure tone hearing thresholds, Tinnitus handicap inventory, Visual analogue scale, Self-Rating anxiety scale