Impact of Sleep Treatment by Sleep Hygiene Guidance on Improvement of Tinnitus

Abstract

Patients with tinnitus often complain suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders; however, the science underlying the relationship between tinnitus and sleep is not yet clear. We conducted a questionnaire survey using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQ-I), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) to study the relationship between sleep and tinnitus. A total of 34 patients with tinnitus received sleep hygiene guidance in addition to treatment; 22 patients had sleep disorders at the time of initiation of therapy for tinnitus. Patients with sleep disorders had higher prevalence rates of tinnitus and dizziness than patients without sleep disorders. The PSQ-I, THI and DHI scores improved significantly after the subjects had practiced sleep hygiene. Some of the patients showed pronounced improvement of the tinnitus, in addition to improved sleep. Although further investigation is warranted, this study indicates the possibility that treatment of sleep disorders may improve tinnitus.