I’m aware that tinnitus is usually accompanied by neurosensory hearing loss, however tinitus is a subjective symptom that is reported by the patient. The study in rats was no doubt measuring Audiometric Brain Stem Response (ABR.) That value may correspond to nerve damage, but it is a poor surrogate for tinnitus.
Often as you point out, white noise masking may alleviate the tinnitus somewhat, as reported by the patient, but does nothing to improve the deafness.
I understood what you were saying but was trying to help clarify. :>} Some medical terms can seem offensive because another definition of a common word is seldom used.
I'm a life long Vestibular and didn't realize it fully till I was about 36 and being treated for General Anxiety Disorder wrongfully with antidepressants. I had to piece things together myself. I spent two years in Occupational Therapy due too poor eye-too muscle coordination related also to my Inner Ear and only having single eye functional vision. My eyes both have vision but never at the same time.
The OT helped me adapt enough to even get through military service till my sensory processing system began to really degrade. The later onset included what I now know to be Sensory Stimulus induced Myoclonic Seizures or upper torso spasms shoulders and up. Nothing showed up on MRI, CAT, or even EEG. Ive just got some not too well yet understood messed up internal wiring LOL.
If you read the article, know what an ABR is and know a little biology, you will know that it is NOT an ABR. No doubt.