Tomatis Method for Hyperacusis Despite Tinnitus Concerns: Headphone Use Required

[Regis]

Dear Colleagues,

I have been suffering from tinnitus and hyperacusis for one and a half years. It is a little better than at the onset, but still far from ideal.

Recently, my audiologist told me about a treatment that may be effective for hyperacusis—the Tomatis Method. The issue is that it requires the use of headphones. The treatment lasts four weeks, and each day you are supposed to listen to music (specifically Mozart's compositions) through headphones for 80 minutes straight. The volume level is 40 dB.

I do not know what to do. I am afraid my tinnitus may worsen. I have read on the forum that using headphones is generally not recommended for people with tinnitus, even at low volumes. On the other hand, it is hyperacusis that essentially keeps me confined to my home.

Could you advise me on what to do?

Best regards,
Regis

 

[Strife_84]

@Regis, what is the Tomatis Method? In my opinion, it is best not to use headphones.

Listen to music the usual way, at home, through speakers. There you go—free advice.

Time will help. It took me almost five years to recover from hyperacusis and sensitivity to certain sounds.

 

[ECP]

Hardly anybody on this website has ever mentioned the Tomatis Method. I am afraid it is unlikely to be helpful for hyperacusis, because if it were, more of us would have heard of it or tried it by now.

A quick search on Google suggests that Tomatis is mainly useful for people who have autism or auditory processing disorders, not so much for hyperacusis. Did your audiologist provide any evidence that this helps patients with symptoms similar to yours? And if not evidence, then at least a few credible anecdotal reports from other patients they have treated?

I am personally reluctant to use sound therapy that involves headphones, but if I were to try it, I would want to choose a method that has stronger scientific support.

 

[Regis]

@Strife_84, @EPC, thank you very much for your comments, I appreciate them.

The Tomatis Method is a form of sound therapy. A description of it can be found at:

The Tomatis Method - Innovative Neurosensory Program

Tomatis Method: neurosensory program for auditory processing issues impacting motor skills, emotions, attention, learning, speech & autism.

www.tomatis.com

The method has many applications. One of them is for Auditory Processing Disorder. It is said that one of the signs of this disorder is sensitivity to loud or sudden sounds. This is an excerpt from a free booklet downloaded from this site:

And this is from the FAQ:

The audiologist I met told me that she had been applying the Tomatis Method to patients with hyperacusis for many years, and the success rate was high. However, she has never had a patient with both hyperacusis and tinnitus. I would be the first one. My tinnitus is noise induced. This is the reason I have concerns, especially because I am afraid of using headphones.

On the internet, I found the following testimonials about the Tomatis Method, hyperacusis, and tinnitus:

• Testimonials #1
• Testimonials #2

I still do not know what to do, but I know it is my decision to make.