Evidence-Based Practice in the Management of Tinnitus in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to conduct a systematic review of the literature to compile and evaluate the known research on the management of tinnitus in children/ The specific aims of this paper are to determine what approaches can be considered best practice for the management of tinnitus in this population, what aspects of adult management (if any) can be adapted for children, and whether the literature supports one management approach over another. Methods and Results: A comprehensive search utilizing the Medline and Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Google Scholar databases, accessible via the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center library website, was conducted. 273 articles were identified, of which 10 met the selection criteria for review. Discussion: Numerous management techniques were discussed, with the most common methods being the use of hearing aids, sound therapy with a sound generator, and counseling and education. Other methods discussed included referral to a mental health professional, tinnitus retraining therapy, addressing sleep disturbances, and use of relaxation strategies. Of the articles included in the review, only four reported the use of outcome measures to confirm success of treatment. The outcome measures utilized were questionnaire, interview, or survey of parents. None of the reported outcome measures are validated measurements. Conclusion: It is clear from this review that there is a scarcity of quality literature evaluating evidence-based management of tinnitus in children. Furthermore, even the articles included in this review are limited as they lack validated outcome measures to confirm the benefit of the reported management techniques. Future research should focus on developing validated questionnaires and other outcome measures that are age-appropriate for children. Once such outcome measures exist, studies should further evaluate the efficacy of each management technique