Tinnitus Management and Treatment
At Labyrinth Audiology, we provide sophisticated and multidisciplinary treatment and management options for patients with tinnitus. As part of our treatment services we offer:
- Comprehensive Tinnitus Evaluation (may include tests for hyperacusis and misophonia)
- Tinnitus Counseling, Modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Sound Therapy, Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT)
- Multidisciplinary Team Treatment
- Supplemental and Nutritional Tinnitus Advice
- Tinnitus Habituation, Activity & Retraining Therapy
- Acoustically Engineered Custom-made Sound Therapy Applications
- Neuromonics, Desyncra & Neuromodulation Tinnitus Treatments
After an extensive case history, we will have you answer some brief questionnaires in an effort for us to better understand how tinnitus affects your life. While we employ routine audiological testing to assess your hearing sensitivity, we also attempt to understand the characteristics of your tinnitus. Additionally, we utilize psychoacoustical and electrophysiological measurements. Such tests will provide more detail as to the type of sounds you may be perceiving, and how we can go about assisting you in effectively managing the annoyance.
Solutions to the problem of tinnitus are achievable. After we discuss the results of the tests and learn as much as possible from you about the problem, a variety of methods may be implemented. Strategies ranging from counseling and cognitive-behavioral therapy to the use of special instruments and supplements can work toward our goal of combating tinnitus.
Using scientific and clinically proven evidence-based approaches, our team of tinnitus experts will design a therapeutic model for your tinnitus management which will help you to achieve an effective control over your tinnitus.
Our professionals are experts in decreased sound tolerance disorders such as hyperacusis and misophonia. Many of those who suffer from tinnitus may also have decreased sound tolerance disorders. Our management plan will address both conditions.
About Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a perception of hearing noise or ringing in the ears or in the head without any external source. There are approximately 50 million people in the United States who have reported symptoms of tinnitus. While virtually everyone experiences at least one episode of tinnitus in their lifetime, many people experience its symptoms daily to the degree that it disturbs activities and sleeping patterns.
Tinnitus is manageable, and help is possible. While there is no one quick fix to this dilemma, several options are available for those motivated to begin the path to relief. The precise origin of this internal noise is still being explored in the medical world. However, several factors have been documented to contribute to tinnitus.
Common causes of tinnitus:
Exacerbating Factors:
- Noise exposure
- Ototoxic medications and agents
- Head trauma
- Hearing loss
- Presbycusis
- Thyroid malfunction
- Diabetes
- Meniere’s Disease
- Otosclerosis
- Acoustic Neurinoma
- Vitamin Deficiencies
- Middle ear infections
Common causes of tinnitus:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Stress
Tinnitus and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dr. Ali Danesh and Labyrinth Audiology are pleased to inform you that we now offer cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating patients with persistent, bothersome tinnitus. By implementing CBT as a critical component of our tinnitus treatment, we utilize evidence-based treatment for tinnitus.
Patricia Wightman
M.Ed., Ed.S, LMHC
Patricia Wightman, M.Ed., Ed.S, LMHC, a Certified Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist, has joined Labyrinth Audiology to offer CBT to all tinnitus patients. Patricia is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with more than 25 years’ experience helping patients who experience chronic medical conditions which cause emotional distress and reduced quality of life. Patricia is also a tinnitus patient who has gone from “tinnitus sufferer” to “tinnitus survivor.” Along with CBT, Patricia will also provide education and counseling as recommended in the Guideline, which states: “Clinicians should educate patients with persistent, bothersome tinnitus about management strategies.” CBT adds to our multidisciplinary model which includes prior medical screening, audiology testing and diagnostics, sound therapy, and now, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Evidence-based therapies recommended in the Guideline are shown through research to reduce symptoms such as depression, anxiety and fear. CBT, delivered within a context of a caring, therapeutic relationship provided by a qualified counselor provides an effective basis for treatment. In addition to assisting patients, family members or significant others may receive counseling as an adjunct to patient treatment. Telemedicine (by phone or internet) will also be available to provide ongoing support and follow-up for patients needing “booster” sessions. We do not underestimate the distress and disturbance of normal life activities that tinnitus patients are experiencing. Intervention with these evidence-based therapies gives clinicians the ability to use evidence-based treatment upon diagnosis.
Recent Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Articles written by Dr. Danesh and collegues
- Aazh H, Hayes C, Moore BCJ, Danesh AA, Vitoratou S. (2022).Psychometric Evaluation of the Hyperacusis Impact Questionnaire (HIQ) and Sound Sensitivity Symptoms Questionnaire (SSSQ) Using a Clinical Population of Adult Patients with Tinnitus Alone or Combined with Hyperacusis. J Am Acad Audiol. 2022 Feb 23. doi: 10.1055/a-1780-4002. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35196727.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35196727/
- Danesh AA, Howery S, Aazh H, Kaf W, Eshraghi AA (2021).Hyperacusis in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Audiology Research, 11(4):547-556.https://doi.org/10.3390/audiolres11040049
- Aazh H, Danesh AA, Moore BCJ (2021).Self-reported Tinnitus Severity Prior to and During the COVID-19 Lockdown in the UK. J Am Acad Audiol. 2021 Oct;32(9):562-566. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731733. Epub 2022 Feb 17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35176799/
- Aazh H, Danesh AA (2021).ONLINE FEATURE | Trilogy of Papers: Audiologist-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus and Hyperacusis. Audiology Today, March-April Online Issue, https://www.audiology.org/audiology-today-marchapril-2021/online-feature-trilogy-papers-audiologist-delivered-cognitive
- Aazh, H & Danesh, AA (2020).Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus: Insights from Health Care Professionals. The Hearing Journal. First published online Wednesday, December 30, 2020 Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Tinnitus: In… : The Hearing Journal (lww.com)
- Aazh H, Danesh AA, Moore BCJ.Internal Consistency and Convergent Validity of the Inventory of Hyperacusis Symptoms. Ear Hear. 2020 Nov 30. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000982. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33259445.
- Aazh, H & Danesh, AA (2020).Tinnitus and Insomnia, The Hearing Journal: June 2020 – Volume 73 – Issue 6 – p 14,15.
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2020/06000/Tinnitus_and_Insomnia__Management_via.5.aspx - Danesh, AA & Aazh, H (2020).Misophonia: A Neurologic, Psychologic, and Audiologic Complex. The Hearing Journal. Vol 73, pp20-23. https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2020/03000/Misophonia__A_Neurologic,_Psychologic,_and.5.aspx
- Aazh, H., Landgrebe, M., Danesh, AA & Moore, BCJ.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Alleviating The Distress Caused By Tinnitus, Hyperacusis And Misophonia: Current Perspectives. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019 Oct 23;12:991-1002
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31749641 - Danesh, AA (2019).Incorporating Tinnitus Management Services into your Audiology Practice. The Hearing Journal. Vol 72, pp22-23.
https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2019/11000/Incorporating_Tinnitus_Management_Services_into.8.aspx - Aazh, H., Landgrebe, M & Danesh, AA. (2019).Parental mental illness in childhood as a risk factor for suicidal and self-harm ideations in adults seeking help for tinnitus and/or hyperacusis. Am J Aud. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2019_AJA-18-0059; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31184510
- Aazh, H., Langguth, B. & Danesh, AA (2018).Parental separation and parental mental health in childhood and tinnitus and hyperacusis disability in adulthood: a retrospective exploratory analysis. Int J of Aud. 2018 Oct 1:1-6. doi: 10.1080/14992027.2018.1514470.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30272507
- Aazh, H., Danesh, AA & Moore, BCJ (2018).Parental mental health in childhood as a risk factor for anxiety and depression among people seeking help for tinnitus and hyperacusis. J of Am Acad Aud.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30446035
- Aazh H, Knipper M, Danesh AA, Cavanna AE, Andersson L, Paulin J, Schecklmann M, Heinonen-Guzejev M, & Moore BCJ (2018).Insights from the Third International Conference on Hyperacusis: Causes, Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Noise Health. 2018 Jul-Aug ;20(95):162-170.http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2018;volume=20;issue=95;spage=162;epage=170;aulast=Aazh;type=0
- Ocak, M, Eshraghi, R, Danesh, AA, Mittal, R & Eshraghi E (2018).Central Auditory Processing Disorders in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Balkan Medical Journal, June 2018. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326028400_Central_Auditory_Processing_Disorders_in_Individuals_with_Autism_Spectrum_Disorders?ev=project
- Danesh, AA, Shahnaz, N, & Hall, JW (2018).The Audiology of Otosclerosis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2018 Apr; 51(2):327-342. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29397946-the-audiology-of-otosclerosis/?from_term=Danesh+tinnitus&from_pos=1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29397946
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Labyrinth Audiology
1500 NW 10th Ave. #104
Boca Raton, FL 33486
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