The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

Obviously, it’s not a cure, but a new article in CNN referencing a new variant of CBT for tinnitus has shown efficacy in reducing subjective distress caused by tinnitus:

The study, conducted in the Netherlands, involved 492 patients. Half received an audiological work-up and no other structured treatment, while the other half received integrated care, including tinnitus-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

The therapy included having patients perform mundane, everyday tasks, while being exposed to whatever sound is associated with their tinnitus.

“People usually avoid their own sound,” said Cima.  “So they practice paying attention to their sound and what reactions they’re having because of that sound.”

Among the group who got the therapy, about 70% reported improvements in their quality of life or decreased tinnitus a year after beginning treatment.

Importantly, for a malady that has its roots in the brain, many patients also reported improvements in tinnitus-related fear and anxiety.

“The sound didn’t disappear but fear reactions did,” said Cima.

The value of this sort of thing as an interim type of treatment until a cure is developed is often unappreciated, in my opinion. Also, as I’ve posted before, meditation is a great technique for coping with tinnitus.