Tinnitus Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions concerning the treatment offered by the Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Program based on Habituation Therapy Model
The questions included here will give a general outline of the treatment. Pease read carefully the detailed information included.
How do you treat tinnitus?
Our treatment is called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, but other names such as habituation-oriented therapy, tinnitus treatment based on neurophysiological model, and “Dr. Jastreboff’s treatment” are used as well. It 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.
What does retraining therapy mean?
We try to retrain the subconscious parts of the brain to ignore the sound of your tinnitus and to achieve the stage in which you are not aware of and annoyed by your tinnitus.
Are there any side effects of the treatment?
There are no side effects.
What kind of audiological tests are performed? Will it hurt my ears? What if I don’t have tinnitus when I am tested?
These tests include an audiogram and several specific tests which will 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 these tests will be painful. If the tinnitus is not present on the day of testing, it will not influence the possibility of success with the treatment.
I recently had audiological test done. Do they have to be repeated?
We prefer to have the test performed in our program. Equipment calibrations may vary, and there are also very specific measurements we perform which are not routinely provided in other places.
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 session is a fundamental part of the treatment process.
Tinnitus Staff
Joel F. Lehrer, M.D.
Valerie Pinto Kriney, Audiologist
Ayo Ogunlusi, Audiologist
...More
The Program For Tinnitus and Hyperacusis
Audiology Services: The audiology department at Northern Jersey ENT Associates is staffed by audiologists that hold a minimum of a Master’s level or Doctor of...More
Hearing Aids: Most people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids. Just as there are different types and degrees of hearing loss, there are different hearing instruments with...More
What is the role of external sound?
External sound from radios, TVs, stereos, etc. is used at a low level, not to cover (mask) your tinnitus, but to help bring out the changes in your subconscious hearing system. It reduces the contrast between your tinnitus and complete silence, and slightly distracts you from the sound of your tinnitus.
What are the devices and what do they look like?
The devices used in retraining therapy are called “sound generators”. These devices are small instruments worn behind both ears. They look similar to the behind-the-ear hearing aids and can be worn with glasses. They should not interfere with your work, communication, or talking on the telephone. Newer devices fit all-in-the-ear, and they can be ordered in a flexible material that can be worn while sleeping, or a more rigid material. The all-in-the-ear types are slightly more expensive.
Can I just buy the devices?
The devices are used to help speed up the process of retraining, but what is important is how they are used. The manner in which the devices are used depends on each patient’s needs. If you just buy and wear the devices you most likely will not achieve improvement, and in some cases you may even hurt yourself. We will teach you how to use them effectively.
Do I need to have the devices?
Most everyone needs the devices. After the audiological evaluation we will give you our recommendations and you can choose your treatment.
I am using hearing aids; how can I use other devices?
Depending on the type of hearing aids, it is possible that we can work with your hear aids and you will not need any other devices. Some patients wear a combination of hearing aids and sound generators.
I was using maskers without effect. What is the difference masking and these devices?
Although in some cases masking can provide tinnitus relief, this approach is aimed at making tinnitus inaudible. However, when the device is removed, the tinnitus returns, and the level of sound required to mask the tinnitus may be uncomfortable. We use the devices to generate sound, not cover the sound of tinnitus. The goal of retraining therapy is to retrain the brain so that it eventually does not pick up the tinnitus sound, and in order to do this the tinnitus sound can not be covered. Generating sound that mixes with your tinnitus will help you feel more comfortable and remove the emotional response to tinnitus, and eventually the perception of tinnitus itself so that it is no longer heard.
My mother/father is deaf and she has tinnitus. Can she benefit from Tinnitus Retraining Therapy?
This therapy uses sound as a part of the protocol. So, if your mother/father is completely deaf and does not have a cochlear implant, she/he would not be able to benefit from this therapy. However, the use of electrical stimulation of the ear (through a cochlear implant or external stimulation) combined with Tinnitus Retraining Therapy may help. If she/he can hear sound, even if she/he cannot recognize speech, we can try to help her/him.
