Page 11 - Portuguese Journal - SPORL - Vol 61. Nº1

Table 3
Statistical relationship between auditory gain, improvement in tinnitus, and interval between the onset
of symptoms and HOT treatments
No. of days between
THI
Auditory gain symptom onset and
improvement
start of HOT
Pearson’s correlation 1 0,064 -0,267*
Auditory gain
Significance (p) - 0,638 0,045
THI Pearson’s correlation 0,064 1 -0,086
improvement Significance (p) 0,638 - 0,527

No. of days Pearson’s correlation -0,267* -0,086 1
between
symptom onset Significance (p) 0,045 0,527 -
and start of HOT
* The correlation is significant at 0.05 (two ends).
Abbreviations: HOT, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, THI, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory
Table 4
Statistical relationship between age, auditory gain, and tinnitus improvement

Auditory gain THI improvement Age
Pearson’s correlation 1 0,064 -0,256
Auditory gain
Significance (p) - 0,638 0,054
THI Pearson’s correlation 0,064 1 -0,193
improvement Significance (p) 0,638 - 0,150
Pearson’s correlation -0,256 -0,193 1
Age
Significance (p) 0,054 0,150 -
Abbreviations: THI, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

The mean THI score before treatment with There was an improvement in the severity of
HOT was 3.1 (perceived even in the presence tinnitus even in patients without audiometric
of sound) and 1.98 after HOT (easily masked improvement according to Siegel’s criteria.
and forgotten). The most significant gain was
observed in patients with grade 3 and grade Discussion
4 tinnitus. It was not possible to establish a There was a significant improvement in the
statistically significant relationship between THI score with regard to tinnitus severity,
the degree of tinnitus and the degree of especially in patients with complete auditory
hearing loss before and after treatment. recovery, although without statistical

Table 5
Audiometric improvement according to the initial PTA

Number of No. of days
Initial PTA (dB) Mean PTA gain (dB)
patients symptoms-HOT (mean)
20-40 (Mild hypoacusis) 11,93 14 41,36
40-70 (Moderate hypoacusis) 17,40 21 39,76
70-90 (Severe hypoacusis) 14,75 15 31,2
90-110 (Profound hypoacusis) 24,28 7 32,39
Abbreviations: HOT, Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, PTA, pure tone average

Volume 61 . Nº1 . March 2023 11