Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

I looked at the TRT thread. It's possible that the clinicians claims to provide the TRT but they don't have much knowledge in treating T & H. The TRT is an expensive treatment. How do I find out whether the clinicians have the experience? Does anyone know any good TRT practitioner in San Diego, California?

 

@G61
I have had TRT twice in 20 years with good results. Please click on my Avatar and choose "Started threads" in the list look for my posts on TRT and it explains the treatment and what's involved.
Contact a clinic and ask them what type of TRT do they provide. The following is what you should look for.

Proper TRT is following the Professor Pawel Jasterboff method.
1. Wearing two white noise generators for up to 10hrs a day. At night use a sound machine by the bedside for sound enrichment.
2. A good clinic that follows the Jasterboff TRT protocol, will advise you that it is necessary for you to have regular counselling (talk) therapy with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist trained in TRT. Regular counselling sessions is very important. If the clinic doesn't provide this then it is not TRT, and I advise you to keep away.
TRT treatment lasts 12 to 18 months sometimes a little longer.

The counselling sessions that you have with a Therapist, in my opinion should last a minimum of 45 mins.
If you are told that only one white noise generators is needed, this is not TRT. If no regular counselling is offered, this is not TRT.
Please read my posts in started threads for more information on TRT. When you start the treatment I advise you not to mention to anyone in tinnitus forums that you are having it. The reason, is because there are many people that are negative towards TRT and haven't tried it and therefore, their beliefs can interfere with your progress if you are not careful.
I wish you well
Michael

 

@Michael Leigh,

Where did you have your TRT?

 

I live in the UK so had it at a NHS hospital. I had two courses of treatement each lasted 2 years and aproximately 8 years apart.
Michael

 

Important to note that the UK NHS does not offer TRT as defined by Jasterboff - this is because Jasterboff prescribes counselling at regular intervals of every two weeks or so, something which is not remotely possible at NHS hospitals. Also, sound therapy through white noise generators not available at majority of NHS hospitals. The actual evidence base for TRT is in fact very limited anyway. Most tinnitus patients are much more likely to be benefit from medication if the tinnitus is actute and time if the tinnitus is milder.

 

@david c
Your information regarding TRT under the NHS is incorrect. I have had TRT twice and with regular counselling following the Jasterboff protocol. If you read the TRT book written by professor Jasterboff, it clearly states, the amount of counselling required and frequency for each patient will be different and therefore, it is up to the Hearing Therapist or Audiologist doing the treatment to decided. Each time I had TRT it was for 2 years and I wore white noise generators for 10hrs day. I also had regular counselling at 2 or 3 week intervals lasting 45mins to over an 1hr on many occasions.

Michael

 

It seems our experience of treatment at the NHS has been different. So let's clarify things a little:

1. You mention having had TRT twice - when was the second time?
2. Whereabouts was this?

 

@david c
I do not need to justify my experience of TRT to anyone and I am not going to divulge the name of the hospital I attended. However, I will say that it is well known and is in London. It is true that some NHS hospitals that practice TRT have adapted the treatment to their requirements and may not follow the Jasterboff TRT protocol to the letter. However, results can still be good. In my case, I had the full treatment twice: 1996 to 98. Then 2008 to 2010. I have mentioned this many times in my posts. Later this month, I will be attending my ENT department to be issued with 2 new digital white noise generators.

Michael

 

So in answer to my first question the last time you had TRT was in 2010 - seven years ago - your experience is therefore rather out of date - certainly in comparison with my more recent NHS experience.

You refuse to mention the name of the hospital - though you say it was a London one. Your experience is therefore not particularly representative of the NHS across the UK.

You don't need to "justify your experience" to me any more than I need to justify my experience to you. But certainly it would be more polite to acknowledge that my experience - and the information I have as a result of it - is just as valid as yours rather than saying it is "incorrect".

 

@david c
With respect, you did say the NHS does not offer TRT as defined by Jasterboff, because they do not prescribe counselling on a regular bases and I disagreed with this. However, I agree this might be the case at “some” hospitals but not all of them. I know this as people have contacted me that are receiving TRT under the NHS and have regular counselling sessions with a hearing therapist.

I have been an outpatient for 20 years and have been seen many times at ENT and having my white noise generators upgraded whenever it is necessary, as will be the case later this month.

TRT is not a quick treatment nor will it work for everyone. A lot depends on the patient’s attitude. It is for this reason I advise anyone seeing a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist for TRT, CBT or for any other tinnitus management, not to visit tinnitus forums too often and try not to read negative posts from people that believe nothing can be done for the condition, as their beliefs can hinder or stop the habituation progress.

Regarding Professor Jasterboff and his TRT treatment. A rather startling piece of information was told to me recently, that might surprise some people. If it is true for I have no way of knowing it is quite sad. Someone PM’d me about one month ago who’s on the TRT programme and seeing Mr Jasterboff personally. This person told me he’s 8 months into treatment and only seen Jasterboff twice for counselling. Whenever he telephones the clinic with a problem, he says Jasterboff can’t wait to get him off the phone. As I said there’s no proof this actually happened but I can’t see what this person would gain by telling lies. I could tell he was quite distressed and contacted me after reading one of my posts about TRT treatment that I have had under the NHS.

Michael

 

@Michael Leigh

Do you / have you had Hyperacusis as well? I am due to start TRT on Wednesday.

I am certainly not an expert on TRT but I understood that the WNG's were used to treat H and not the T? Or are they used for both? My audiologist did go over this with me in person but it was 2 weeks ago and I'm a bit hazy on that at the moment.

I am also interested in why you have had to go through TRT twice and why you still have to wear WNG's now?

Any information you can share is much appreciated.

Paul.

 

Hi Paul,
I have had tinnitus for many years and once had very severe hyperacusis. I have written a lot about TRT, tinnitus and hyperacusis. You can access this information by clicking on my Avatar and choosing "started threads" Most of my posts will bring you up to speed about TRT, tinnitus and hyperaucis. I have written an article titled: Tinnitus, A Peraonal View which you might find helpful. It is also in my "started threads" and I will paste at link below.

Proper TRT requires a person to wear white noise generators up to 10hrs a day. Some people find this difficult to wearing WNG straight for 8 to 1ohrs. I recommend a person to introduce the wngs slowly to their auditory system. Wear them for 2hrs and then take off for 2hrs. Put them back on then off. Slowly build up the wearing time until you reach 8 to 10hrs total wearing time.

At night you take them off and use a sound machine by your bedside. Set it to play throughout the night until morning, keeping the volume slightly lower than the tinnitus.

The 2nd part of TRT requires regular counselling sessions (talk therapy) with a Hearing Therapsist or Audiologist trained in TRT and tinnitus management.

If a person is just give one WNG to wear this is not TRT. If they are given 2 WNG and no regular counselling is given this is not TRT. I am not saying a person cannot gain any benefit but it doesn't follow the proper TRT protocol.

TRT treats hyperacusis and tinnitus. More is explained in my "started threads" and my tinnitus article: Tinnitus, a Personal view.

My first TRT was in 1996 to 98. In 2008 I suffered a 2nd nausea trauma. My post titled: My experience with tinnitus, in "started threads" explains more.

According to my consultant I have severe tinnitus with large fluctuations in intensity that she has rarely seen in other patients. My tinnitus can be: completely silent, mild, moderate, severe. It used to reach extreme severe levels but no longer does. I use my white noise generators as and when I wish but mostly if my tinnitus is severe, as it help. When my tinnitus is silent, mild, or moderate it doesn't bother me in the slightest as I have completely habituated. Even when my tinnitus is severe I can cope with it for a day or two. However, I do need to use my WNG. If the severity continues then I usually have to take my clonazepam but this doesn't happen often now.

Michael

PS: When you start the TRT treatment, I advise you to keep away from tinnitus forums. If you do visit them try not to mention to anyone that you are having this treatment. There are a lot of negative people out here that no nothing about TRT and just want to trash it and say it doesn't work. If you haven't got a strong mindset, their negative beliefs can delay or prevent your success with TRT.
Best of luck!

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

I know this is an old thread but it's worth revisiting. All I hear about is how great TRT is and how it only works when you spend crazy money on a clinician who will demystify tinnitus and sound enrichment. Seems to me anybody here already knows everything that's ever been written about tinnitus and I am having a hard time justifying in my mind that a clinician can suddenly add some revelation that takes the mystery out of tinnitus or had an explanation of the mechanics of hearing is going to help.

There's a complete lack of TRT clinicians in most areas of the US, if TRT was such an effective treatment wouldn't there be clinics all over the place offering this therapy.

It also seems to me there's a lot of double talk about the use of sound. Is it masking, is it enrichment, is it therapy, is it neural plasticity, should it be wearable for 24 hours, or bedside for sleeping???

I don't know, sound is sound, I think. I would really love to hear a straight definitive explanation of how it works without shelling out a couple thousand bucks.

 

I live in Pittsburgh, PA and here is the clinic I'm considering that offers TRT. They also sent me more detailed info in the mail.

http://www.upmc.com/Services/ear-no...lance/audiology/Pages/tinnitus-treatment.aspx

 

It looks like a good place to go but I don't see any mention of tinnitus retraining therapy using Dr Pawel Jastreboff'smethods. It's become my understanding that there are various versions being offered and not all follow the original protocol of Jastreboff, not sure if it matters, as I mentioned in prior post, there's a lot of "talk" about understanding what tinnitus is as part of the therapy. I'm pretty sure we all know exactly what it is.

 

Please read my posts on TRT by clicking on my "started threads" @Ambassador. It is also covered in my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View, also in my started threads. TRT is not a silver bullet and is not a cure for tinnitus. In most cases it will cure hyperacusis as it did for me 21 years ago and will help lower the perception of the tinnitus. Results will differ between people. A negative attitude towards the treatment which I believe you have without ever having tried it, is a sure way the treatment won't work for you. Once you read my articles on TRT you just might change your mind on this treatment. I believe most of the questions that you have about it you'll find the answers there.

Michael

 

I would like to try the technique of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy on myself and I have several questions I hope from you to answer them:
1 - How can I create the right sound for my tinnitus?
2. How long should I listen to the generated sound?
3. Does this process involve a risk that my tinnitus will increase more than now?

Thanks

 

How many people on this forum have tried trt with success?
Did these people have mild, severe or devastating t / h?
I am curious to know this.
Ive tried trt, without success, the wng's made my t worse

 

Hi everyone can anybody help me find a TRT specialist in Scotland (U.K.) I've tried googling on the internet but without much luck. Many thanks, john

 

I think you misunderstand my intentions, I was expressing frustration for a lack of TRT clinicians in my part of the US, coupled with virtually no control over the protocol used in different TRT clinics.

 

Maybe I misunderstood, but my questions still remain valid

 

Please accept my apology for misunderstanding you. I wish you success if you're able to find a suitable clinic that practices TRT. I advise you first address your hearing loss and find a suitable Hearing Therapist. Once a person is fitted with a hearing aid/s tinnitus can reduces quite significantly.

Michael

 

No apology necessary, I am under the care of an audiologist and have been wearing Phonak v90 aids for more than 2 years and they are a big help.

 

Closest to Scotland is this therapist

UNITED KINGDOM

Jacqui Sheldrake
Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Centre
32 Devonshire Place
London W1G 6JL
United Kingdom
44 207 487 2701 tel
44 207 486 2218 fax
j.sheldrake@ucl.ac.uk
tamia@audiology.fsnet.co.uk
www.tinnitus.org

 

It doesn't matter how long or what sound you listen to.

No risk.

 

Thanks for the replay ebbie but I do not understand what is the theory of generating The TRT of somebody who have tinnitus in 7500hz for example?

 

Thanks ebbie. Can't believe there's no one closer many thanks

 

I suspect you are confusing TRT and ACRN. The former doesn't generate sound based on your T frequency, but the latter does.
There are a few sound therapies that craft the sound therapy specifically to your T. TRT is not one of them (and TRT isn't just a sound therapy either).

 

TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy) I have had twice in 20 years with good results. This treatment cannot be done alone by the person affected with tinnitus. It requires counselling (talk therapy) on a regular basis with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist trained in TRT (tinnitus management). It also requires the wearing of white noise generators for up to 10hrs a day and using a sound machine by the bedside, throughout the night until morning. The wearing of white noise generators and using a sound machine is called "sound enrichment". It treats the tinnitus and hyperacusis if it is present. The treatment lasts up to 2 years.
For more information on TRT read my articles on it in my "started threads". The TRT book, written by Professor Jasterboff and Jonathon Hazell, that all Hearing Therapists and Audiologists follow for treating tinnitus patients, is available from Amazon.

Michael

 

A treatment that depends on the person's attitude is not a treatment. And in the same breath-of-air, if the treatment worked so well for you, what the hell are you doing posting every other minute on a tinnitus forum? Why aren't you out and about in the real world? For goodness' sake. It's like reading a chapter from the Emperor's New Clothes...