What Researchers Did
Researchers examined 120 tinnitus patients at three time points to assess changes in quality of life during and after a two-week hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
Tinnitus patients showed impairments in all quality of life areas compared to the general population, with the largest differences (effect sizes of about 1.5) in social, cognitive, emotional, and role functioning, and financial difficulties. During the two-week hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients' quality of life scores improved, reaching approximately halfway between their initial scores and general population values.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's main limitation is the absence of a control group, preventing conclusions about the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.