Evaluation of Utility of Bhramari Pranayama in Tinnitus Management

Background and Aim: Tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external source, affects about 14.4% of the global population, often leading to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. While sound therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) are common treatments, their effectiveness varies. Bhramari Pranayama (BP), a breathing technique involving a humming sound, has been proposed as a potential therapy, but its efficacy remains underexplored. This study evaluates the impact of BP combined with sound therapy versus sound therapy alone on tinnitus severity and psychological distress. Setting and Design: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in an outpatient clinical setting with 30 participants divided into two groups: (1) sound therapy with white noise masking and (2) sound therapy combined with BP. Ethical guidelines were followed, and informed consent was obtained. Methods: Participants had chronic tonal tinnitus for at least 3 months and no prior treatment. Both groups received 15-minute white noise masking, relaxation exercises, and abdominal breathing, with the BP group performing additional BP exercises. Assessments included pitch and loudness matching, the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in tinnitus loudness perception. Loudness scores were significantly lower in the BP group. Anxiety improved in the sound therapy group, while the BP group showed a greater reduction in depression. Conclusion: BP combined with sound therapy may enhance tinnitus management by reducing loudness perception and psychological distress. Further research is needed to explore its long-term benefits.