Tinnitus is one of the most common ailments in the nation, affecting over 45 million people in the United States. In decades past, experts had many tinnitus treatment methods, but only a few have survived. So while researchers and doctors continue to search for viable treatment methods, a few have jumped out as being most efficient.
If you choose to ignore your tinnitus, it causes various problems, including difficulty sleeping, a constantly negative mood change, challenges communicating with others, and the inability to think clearly. Tinnitus can also co-exist with other hearing ailments, which is why a treatment based on your tinnitus is usually the most effective option available.
What is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy?
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is a form of habituation therapy that seeks to treat tinnitus by exposure to other stimuli, mostly other noises.
As the name implies, tinnitus retraining therapy attempts to “retrain” how the central nervous system and the auditory system receive, process, and interpret sound. The goal here is that successful TRT patients are not bothered by their tinnitus, even though they are aware of it. Also, the probability of a TRT patient perceiving their tinnitus gets reduced significantly.
This is achieved by inducing changes in the patient’s brain, precisely how they hear and process sound. It is important to remember that most of these changes are on the subconscious level, helping us change how we hear and think without being aware of it. After a while, the process becomes automatic, assisting the patients to manage their tinnitus without having to think about it.
The two main components of TRT are educational counseling and sound therapy.
What Happens During Therapy?
The first component of TRT, sometimes called directive counseling, may change the way the patient perceives their tinnitus. First, they are taught basic knowledge about the auditory system and its function, the mechanism of their tinnitus generation, and the problems they suffer. Then, the repetition of these points in their follow-up visits helps the patient perceive the signal as a non-danger.
The second element of TRT is sound therapy. Tinnitus sound therapy uses a complex process known as sound habituation to retrain how the brain interprets tinnitus. Essentially, the brain learns to reclassify the unwanted sounds they hear as something unimportant.
Sound therapy helps a person “forget” about the sound. That might sound like a complex and unachievable goal, but every human brain does this every day.
Different methods and sounds can help, and an audiologist trained in tinnitus therapy can explore several options. One common way to initially try sound therapy is by selecting a relaxing, neutral sound—like ocean waves crashing, rain falling, white noise, or instrumental music—and playing it as background noise throughout the day.
Increased background noise creates a situation in opposition to the typical, quiet environment, inducing or enhancing tinnitus. Expressly, all patients are advised to avoid silence and to enrich background sounds using nature or music.
A Common Problem
Tinnitus is a common problem in the USA, with 50 million being diagnosed. Fortunately, less than 25% of those who experience tinnitus suffer from the condition. It is difficult to determine why some people suffer from tinnitus while others do not.
This may be related to physiological changes, a predisposing problem, ototoxic drug exposure, psychological profile or predisposition, limbic system or autonomic system irregularities, or many other etiologies.
Over one to two years, many individuals can rewire the way the brain and auditory system that are responsible for producing the tinnitus signal(s). As a result, relief from tinnitus can often occur very early in the process of treatment. However, the full 12-month commitment is essential to make sure individuals do not relapse to previous levels of tinnitus.
Out of all of the studies conducted on tinnitus retraining therapy, many demonstrate that tinnitus retraining therapy is effective for about 80% of the population. Furthermore, once treatment is completed, most individuals who underwent TRT can sustain their results over time. When you compare this to other non-device-based therapies for tinnitus, TRT is recognizably the most effective form of treatment currently available.
TRT is a practical approach to the management and treatment of tinnitus. Although various health caregivers can conduct TRT, audiologists are uniquely qualified to perform TRT as they have the background knowledge of auditory physiology and hearing loss. In addition, they can counsel patients and are licensed to dispense sound generators and hearing aids (if needed).
If you or someone you know believes you may have tinnitus or hearing loss, it is essential to contact a hearing professional immediately. Having a simple hearing test can get you back on track towards healthy hearing.
If you require assistance in the Las Vegas area, consider using Hearing Associates of Las Vegas for all of your audiology needs. With a dedicated team of core practitioners with a vast knowledge of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, we can help you manage your tinnitus, no matter how severe.
info@hearingassociateslv.com
Leave a Reply