Tinnitus

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SUBJECTIVE TINNITUS...
... is experienced by over 50 million Americans, ten million of whom have sought relief from medical or nonmedical intervention. Subjective Tinnitus is more prevalent and differs significantly from Objective Tinnitus. Objective Tinnitus can be heard by others and has a different genesis than does Subjective Tinnitus. Usually, Objective Tinnitus can be treated by appropriate medical or surgical methods.

Seldom is tinnitus an indication of some life threatening or debilitating disorder. However, it is imperative that specific clinical tests be administered to rule out the need for medical or surgical management.

By definition, subjective tinnitus is evidenced by an acoustic like sensation, usually located within the head, for which there is no external cause. It is defined in a variety of ways by those who suffer from it. Such statements as roaring, hissing, music, crickets, a cacophony of sounds, and static-like are only a few of the descriptions provided by our patients regarding this ongoing disorder.

Subjective tinnitus may be constant and unrelenting. It may be intermittent or change with respect to frequency and intensity. It may be in one or in both ears.

Two conclusions are evident. First of all, there is no general consensus as to etiology. Second, there is no general consensus of an absolute or effective treatment which cures the disorder. However, there is a need to provide treatment programs which assist the patient in coping with the problem, even though only the symptom (tinnitus) is being treated.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, also known as Habituation Therapy, is a relatively new approach to the management of tinnitus and of hyperacusis. It was developed by a world-renowned neurophysiologist, Doctor Pawell Jastreboff. In studies involving over 800 patients, he reports an 80+% success rate.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is based on strong neurophysiological evidence that any person can habituate to acoustic, or acoustic like, sensations in their environment.

With constant use of special sound generators coupled with careful counseling, habituation usually occurs within the first 18 months. This is not to suggest that the tinnitus disappears. Rather, it is no longer perceived at the conscious level of awareness. The sound generators are housed in a small, ear-level casing coupled with an open earmold. This configuration does not interfere with the patient's ability to hear.

We use a modification to this approach for hyperacusis. The modification allows retraining the lower parts of the brain and the inner ear to decrease their extreme sensitivity to moderate and loud sound.

At Labyrinth Audiology the innovative Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment is offered by our experts.

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