Strategies for the Selection of Music in the Short-term Management of Mild Tinnitus

The aims of this pilot study were to determine any difference in short-term tinnitus relief between pieces of music with differing musical element extremes and to establish any possible relationship between musical aptitude and/or subjective response to music and the stimulus perceived to be of the greatest benefit to tinnitus relief. Baroque music pieces, which covered a range of musical elements, were presented to 13 participants with mild tinnitus along with silence and broadband noise. Ratings on visual analogue scales were obtained and correlation analysis revealed that two pieces of music in the major musical mode provided a significant reduction in tinnitus annoyance. The results of this study suggest that music is effective in the short-term management of tinnitus and musicianship does not influence music's effectiveness. However, there was a considerable variation in participants' preference for music suggesting individual listening preference should be considered in prescription of sound for treating tinnitus.