Three Years Later: Report on the State of Well-Being of Patients with Chronic Tinnitus Who Underwent Modified Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

Abstract

Successful management of patients with chronic tinnitus is an important health issue. One of the tinnitus management strategies used at our Tinnitus Center is a combination of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) with physiotherapy and psychological management [called modified TRT (MTRT)]. We have used this type of management for over a decade and have described the protocol in detail elsewhere. In the present study, we wanted to determine the effect of MTRT on the well-being of tinnitus patients 3 years after treatment onset. One hundred and thirty patients with chronic tinnitus were assessed using psychometric instruments immediately before 7-day MTRT, immediately after the therapy and 3 years later. Patients with very severe tinnitus-related distress associated with major depression and a risk of suicide were excluded from this study. MTRT resulted in a sustained reduction of tinnitus-related distress. Moreover, the quality of life of patients had increased, as assessed by a separate questionnaire. The effect of MTRT was influenced by the degree of tinnitus-related distress and by the patients' age, the latter being gender dependent. Hearing loss and tinnitus duration had only a minor influence on the therapeutic effect. Taken together, we report a positive change in the state of well-being of patients with chronic tinnitus measurable with various psychometric instruments 3 years after the onset of MTRT. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Results of an Interdisciplinary Day Care Approach for Chronic Tinnitus Treatment: A Prospective Study Introducing the Jena Interdisciplinary Treatment for Tinnitus

“…Tinnitus annoyance was reduced significantly from 33.8 points to 27.8 points after 7 days and continued to attenuate to 25.2 points 6 months after treatment. A significant reduction in TQ was observed up to 3 years after treatment (Seydel et al, 2015). …”

Cochlear Implantation of Bilaterally Deafened Patients with Tinnitus Induces Sustained Decrease of Tinnitus-Related Distress

“…The neurophysiological model proposed by Jastreboff (27, 28) suggests the existence of auditory–limbic–sympathetic network responsible for negative effects of tinnitus sound and inducing the distress and inability to divert the attention of patients from the tinnitus sound. TRT, designed by Jastreboff based on the above theory, has since years been a frequent therapeutic choice of many clinicians (29–31). The second method widely used for tinnitus is the CBT, which was developed to treat anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, chronic low back pain, personality disorders, depression, and anxiety and successfully applied in the treatment for tinnitus (32–35).…”

Combined Bifrontal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Tailor-Made Notched Music Training in Chronic Tinnitus

“…In one study, the recovery of hearing after sudden deafness in the affected ear guaranteed the improvement of tinnitus [19]. Another report identified superior 3-year responsiveness to modified tinnitus retraining therapy in patients with better hearing in the affected ear [20]. In a study of blast-induced chronic tinnitus, patients were more likely to select hearing aids than sound generators for long-term treatment [21]; this trend can be explained by the relationship between auditory function and tinnitus symptoms.…”