Over the years, different methods to contain tinnitus have been introduced, but very few survived the test of time. More than a decade has passed since the introduction of the neurophysiologic model of Tinnitus and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). Today TRT is successfully administered in more than 20 countries.

TRT reflects the practical implementation of the neurophysiologic models of Tinnitus. It is a method primarily aimed at habituating tinnitus evoked reactions of the brain and body, and secondarily at habituating tinnitus perception. Successful TRT patients are not bothered by their tinnitus, even though they are aware of it.

The two main components of TRT:
(1) Educational Counselling
(2) Sound Therapy

Counseling sessions: It focuses on the reclassification of tinnitus into a category of neutral signals. During the sessions, tinnitus is demystified and patients are made aware of the physiological mechanism of tinnitus and its consequent distress as well as the mechanisms through which tinnitus habituation can be attained.

Sound therapy– With the help of a constant low level broad band sound, the difference between tinnitus-related and background neuronal activity is reduced. Consequently, by strengthening the activation of the limbic and autonomic nervous system, it is reflected at the behavioral level by a decrease in tinnitus evoked annoyance.

TINNITUS Clinic Test Protocol

• Audiometric Tests

• Tinnitus Tests

Audiometric Tests

All patients received routine audiometric evaluation incliding discrete-tone threshold testing and speech audiometry. For most of the patients, HL- hearing level( in dB) were determined at 8 frequencies.

Tinnitus Tests?

Development of standardized methods for measuring methods for measuring the pitch, loudness, and other characteristics of tinnitus was completed. The basic test protocol involved measurement of four tinnitus parameters:

• Pitch

• Loudness match

• Maskability

• Residual inhibition