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1.
How do you treat Tinnitus?
The treatment known as "Tinnitus Retraining
Therapy" involves an extensive audiological evaluation, several
counseling sessions, the use of external sound, and frequently
the use of sound devices. It does not involve any surgery or drugs.
2. What does Retraining Therapy Mean?
The subconscious parts of the brain are retrained to ignore the
sound of your tinnitus and to achieve the stage in which you are
not aware of and annoyed by your tinnitus
3. Are there any side effects of the treatment?
There are no side effects
4. What kind of audiological tests are performed?
Will it hurt my ears? What if I don’t have tinnitus when I am
tested?
The tests include an audiogram and several specific tests, which
allow us to evaluate whether you have tinnitus and/or hyperacusis,
and to what degree. The tests begin with low levels of sound and
gradually get louder, therefore, none of the tests will be painful.
If tinnitus is not present on the day of testing, it will not
influence the possibility of success with the treatment.
5. I have recently had audiological tests
done; do they have to be repeated?
We prefer to have the tests performed in our Centre . Equipment
calibrations may vary, and there are also specific measurements
we perform which are not routinely provided in other places.
6. Is the counseling a form of psychotherapy
or biofeedback?
No, the counseling will provide you with information about the
causes and factors involved in your tinnitus/hyperacusis, explain
to you how the retraining therapy works, and teach you how to
control your tinnitus. The counseling sessions are a fundamental
part of the treatment process.
7. I am taking medication; will I be able
to continue?
In general, if you are taking medications for any other reason
than tinnitus, you will be able to continue taking the medication.
8. How long does the treatment take?
The treatment takes up to 12-24 months. If you carefully follow
the protocol you should see and improvement within half a year.
9. Will I be cured?
You will no longer be bothered or annoyed by your tinnitus. However,
if you concentrate and want to hear your tinnitus, you will. This
is why we refer to "tinnitus retraining therapy" as a treatment
and not as a cure.
10. What is the guarantee that I will get
better?
There is no guarantee, but from our experience over 80% of patients
report significant improvement.
11. How long is the first visit?
The first visit consists of 1-1½
hours of audiological evaluation and directive counseling. If
there is to be an instrument fitting this will be scheduled
separately.
12. How frequently do I have to return to
the centre?
There are several follow-up visits: After 3 weeks (½ hour), at
12 weeks (½ hour), at 6 months (1½-2 hours), and then every 6
months until "graduation". For patients who live far away, the
3-week and 12-week follow-up visits are replaced by telephone
consultation.
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