Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus. What is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy? Tinnitus retraining therapy is a form of therapy that is used to help people who suffer from chronic buzzing and ringing in the ear. There are two components of tinnitus therapy. Directive counseling is one of those components. A professional will teach a person about ways that they can ignore tinnitus. Sound therapy is another important component. A person will wear a device behind their ear that makes noise. The noise will help one take their mind off of the tinnitus. Steps Involved in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy This therapy includes the following:
  • The professional will collect important information about the patient. This includes things such as daily living habits and patient health history.
  • The patient will be fitted with a device that will generate noise.
  • The patient will receive psychological counseling. The main goal of counseling is to teach a person how to ignore the noise. Stress management is often taught during a counseling session. Deep relaxation exercises may also be taught. These techniques will help eliminate anxiety. The brain will no longer perceive the tinnitus as a threat. That is why a person will be able to take their mind off of it.
The amount of time that a person will need therapy can vary. How well a person responds to the treatment is one of the factors that will affect how long the treatment will last. Keep in mind that there is no cure for tinnitus. However, many people notice that their symptoms are less frequent after they get treatment. The Effectiveness of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy There was a study done that involved patients who suffered from tinnitus. The subjects were divided into two groups. One of the groups received tinnitus masking while the other group received tinnitus retraining therapy, or TRT. The study lasted for 18 months. The subjects were given one of the treatments at 0,3,6, 9 and 18 months. All of the subjects in the study were military veterans. The subjects were also asked questions about their tinnitus symptoms. Both of the groups noticed a significant decrease in their tinnitus symptoms. However, the subjects who received the TRT treatment noticed a more drastic improvement. People who suffered from severe tinnitus were the ones who received the most benefit from TRT. Patients who suffered from moderate tinnitus noticed improvement, but the results were not as drastic.