| Q What is your centre's management focus? |
| A The Centre focuses exclusively in in helping those who experience tinnitus and hyperacusis. The primary management approach used at the Canadian Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Centre is "Tinnitus Retraining Therapy." The approach involves an extensive audiological evaluation with special tests focusing on tinnitus and hyperacusis, on-going lengthy counselling sessions, the use of auditory stimulation, and for most patients, the use of noise generating devices. This is neither an invasive nor harmful approach. |
| Q Are there any qualifications required for a Centre to offer TRT? |
| A Yes. In order to be recognized by the TRT Association at least one individual within the Centre needs to have credentials in providing TRT. The training required to offer TRT involves an intensive interactive course available in the U.S with Dr. Jastreboff or Great Britain with Dr. Hazell. |
| Q Could you explain what the time commitment is with this therapy? |
| A The
first
appointment is approximately 3.5 to 4 hours in length. It consists
of completing 2 questionnaires, an audiological assessment, testing specific
to tinnitus and hyperacusis, an explanation of test results, directive
counselling, providing answers to any questions you may have and a discussion
of the management options that best suit your personal needs. Follow up
visits are: 2 weeks after the initial appointment, 4 weeks later and then
one at 8 weeks thereafter. These visits are generally one (1) to 1.5 hours
in length. Each 6 month assessment is once again 3.5 to 4 hours in length.
The 6 month evaluations will continue until "graduation" from the program.
The success of the tinnitus management approach depends on active participation,
a thorough understanding of the condition, based on the Neurophysiological
Model, and commitment to the therapeutic approach.
We encourage patients receiving TRT to call us any time in between appointments. Out of town appointments can be accommodated. |
| Q Am I obligated to undergo the entire TRT process? |
| A No. The Centre's objective is to be a comprehensive resource service. The initial full assessment (Option1) evaluates tinnitus and hyperacusis and provides the necessary information for counselling using the Neurophysiological Model. The initial interaction will provide you with enough information to decided whether you wish to pursue TRT further. |
| Q How long does this therapy take? |
| A Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is unfortunately not a "Quick Fix." It generally takes 18 to 24 months to achieve success. However benefits from the therapy are usually experienced much sooner - usually within the first 6 months. |
| Q What do you mean by success? |
| A Success is defined as a decrease in the percentage of time that you are aware of the tinnitus and a decrease in your reaction to tinnitus followed by an overall improvement in your perceived quality of life. |
| Q How do I know if I have hyperacusis? |
| A "Hyperacusis is defined as a hypersensitivity or intolerance to normal everyday sounds (e.g., another person's voice, rustling of newspaper, etc.). At the Centre we will do special testing determine if you are hyperacusic. |
| Q How will TRT help with my hyperacusis? |
| A Through the use of the constant low level noise generators and counselling normal everyday sounds that were previously bothersome much more easily tolerated. |
| Q Are their any guarantees that I will be cured? |
| A Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is not a cure but a therapy for the management of tinnitus. As with any therapy there is no absolute guarantee. However, from the clinical data, success using this approach has been extremely encouraging. An overall success rate of greater than 80 % has been reported by Dr. Jastreboff and Dr. Hazell, for managing tinnitus and hyperacusis. |
| Q Is the therapy covered by OHIP insurance or any other health plan? |
| A Tinnitus
Retraining Therapy is not covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan
(OHIP). The noise generators are not covered under the Assistive Devices
Program in Ontario. There is a breakdown of the costs for the entire management
approach included in the package mailed out to interested patients.
Since Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is relatively new in Canada, we do not know if any of our services are covered under a third party insurance. It is recommended that you contact your insurer about possible coverage. We do not bill insurance companies directly. |
| Q Does your centre provide a medical evaluation? |
| A No, since we have found that most of our patients have already seen an Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist (or several) by the time they come to our Centre. However, it is the Centre's policy that the Physician's Clearance form (provided by the Centre) be completed (if pursuing Option 1) by your Physician prior to being seen for therapy. The written results of an ENT examination should be provided to the Centre, directly by your Otolaryngologist or through your Family Physician. |
| Q I recently had a hearing test. Does it need to be repeated? |
| A We do prefer to have all tests completed at the Centre since some of the tests are unique and not generally performed at other Audiology/Otolaryngology Clinics. In addition, equipment calibrations can vary from place to place potentially resulting in slightly different outcomes. It is important that the same equipment be used in order to monitor progress over time. If however recent audiological assessments have been completed, please bring these results to the Centre for comparison. |
| Q Will medication interfere with my therapy? |
| A If you are taking medication(s) for health reasons other than tinnitus, you can and should continue to do so. If the medications are known to have the side effect of tinnitus, you may wish to consult with your doctor to see if changing the dosage or prescription may help relieve some of your tinnitus. Please realize that these options may not always be possible. |
| Q I have hearing aids, can I use them for managing my tinnitus using the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy approach? |
| A It is quite possible to work with the hearing aids you have to meet the "sound enrichment" component of the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. The protocol of hearing aid(s) use may be somewhat different from the way you have been previously using them. |
| Q What are noise generators or sound generators and what do they look like? |
| A Noise generators or sound generators look like behind-the-ear hearing aids. The noise generators produce constant low level wide band background noise. The level of the noise emitted by the devices is set by you. The noise coming from the noise generator is generally low-level, non-invasive and usually quite acceptable. u are taking medication to help you better cope with your tinnitus, you may want to continue to do so until you notice benefits with the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy approach. At which time, you should slowly "wean" off the medication for your tinnitus with the help of your physician or psychiatrist. |
| Q Does the TRT approach involve "masking" my tinnitus? |
| A No. The protocol used is very different from the traditional masking approach. Masking can provide relief from tinnitus for some patients when the instrument(s) are worn. However, once the masker(s) are removed, the tinnitus is still present. For some, the level of noise required to cover up or mask "head" or "ear noises" can be quite uncomfortable, sometimes intolerable and may even interfere with communication. |