Tinnitus Treatment

Tinnitus is a constant sound in the ear that only the person suffering can hear. It is a disorder that affects millions of lives and is serious enough to disrupt daily living. The sound can be hissing, ringing, whistling or any other distracting noise in the ear. When it affects both ears, daily life is hard to focus on as other conditions worsen. Tinnitus has been linked to depression, panic attacks, social isolation and an overall decreased quality of life. Hyperacusis has a relation to tinnitus, with the difference being that hyperacusis amplifies sounds that are already in the environment. Either condition can be controlled, and in the case of hyperacusis there are patients that have been completely cured.

The professionals at Mario Hearing Clinics of Massachusetts are familiar with tinnitus retraining therapy and are able to help patients find peace from the buzzing, hissing or whooshing noises.

What Are The Causes Of Tinnitus?

Any age can be affected by tinnitus symptoms, but the causes are different. Constant exposure to sounds that damages the ears is one cause. This can happen in a work environment where proper ear protection hasn’t been put into place. Head and neck injuries have been linked to tinnitus, and may also point to a more serious unrelated condition. Common ear infections that progress cause tinnitus, whether temporary or permanent. Some of these conditions can be fully avoided before tinnitus is a problem, while others are completely unavoidable due to environment or personal injury. With so many different conditions finding common ground with Tinnitus, getting treated is the first step to better health

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Tinnitus and hyperacusis are not considered diseases. In the 1980s. Tinnitus retraining therapy was developed by Dr. Pawel Jastreboff and Dr. Johnathan Hazell. TRT is summarized as an ongoing treatment to retrain the brain to ignore noises that disrupt a patients daily activities. Significant advances have been made in the treatment, and now over 80 percent of patients see a positive change in their tinnitus symptoms. Devices are specially made to play low non-disturbing ambient sounds to the user’s ears. These devices are mixed with scheduled counseling to get the best results out of TRT. Even if patients are hearing aid users, TRT is compatible with their current form of treatment.

Goals

TRT retrains a patient’s brain to work better whether they are suffering from tinnitus or hyperacusis. It normalizes distracting sounds and makes them less of an annoyance. The recovery process takes months, with professionals watching TRT progress closely. Human brains are very powerful, so the complexities of tinnitus retraining therapy adapt to meet those standards. After an evaluation, the most appropriate treatment plans are discussed in full with potential patients.