Long-term effect of hyperbaric oxygenation treatment on chronic distressing tinnitus

Tinnitus is still a phenomenon with an unknown pathophysiology with few the rapeutic measures. During the last two decades, hyperbaric oxygenation ther apy (HBO) has been used in the treatment of sudden deafness and chronic dis tressing tinnitus. In this study, we prescribed HBO to 20 patients who had had severe tinnitus for more than one year and who had already had other fo rms of tinnitus therapy with unsatisfactory results. Four patients could no t cope with the pressure gradient. The effect of HBO was assessed using sub jective evaluation and VAS scores before and after HBO. Follow-up continued until one year after treatment. Six patients had a reduction of tinnitus a nd accompanying symptoms, eight patients did not notice any change and two patients experienced an adverse effect. Any outcome persisted with minor ch anges until one year after treatment. HBO may contribute to the treatment o f severe tinnitus, but the negative effect on tinnitus should be weighed ca refully.