Consensus Statements on Tinnitus Treatment: A Delphi Study by the Korean Tinnitus Study Group

Background: Tinnitus is a bothersome condition associated with various mechanisms of action. Although treatment methods vary according to these mechanisms, standardized guidelines would benefit both patients and clinicians. We conducted a Delphi study, a method that collects expert opinions through multiple rounds of questionnaires, to reach a consensus on tinnitus treatment with professional experts. Methods: A two-round modified Delphi survey was conducted to develop a clinical consensus on tinnitus treatment. The experts scored each statement on a scale of 1 (highest disagreement) to 9 (highest agreement). Consensus was defined when 75% or more of the participants scored 7–9, and 15% or less scored 1–3. To ensure reliability, the content validity ratio and Kendall's coefficient of concordance were evaluated. Results: Nineteen of 31 statements reached consensus. All 3 statements regarding candidates for treatment reached consensus. Regarding treatment, 3 of 8 statements on medication, 2 of 2 statements on tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and 5 of 7 statements on auditory rehabilitation reached positive consensus. Although all 6 statements regarding miscellaneous treatment reached consensus, most were negatively agreed. None of the 5 neuromodulation statements reached consensus. Conclusion: Experts reached high consensus on treatment candidates, tinnitus retraining therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy, and auditory rehabilitation. These results provide beneficial and practical information for clinicians regarding tinnitus treatment.