Online Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Does it Work?

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is a technique that teaches individuals how to manage tinnitus on both a conscious and subconscious level. This practice has assisted many people in reducing stress and improving their quality of life.

Tinnitus is a common hearing issue that affects around 20% of the population. Untreated Tinnitus can cause a variety of issues, including difficulty sleeping, unpleasant moods,  interrupted thoughts, and difficulty talking.

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Additionally, tinnitus retraining therapy necessitates close collaboration with hearing specialists. The therapy focuses on the apparent cause of tinnitus and teaches the brain to ignore it. Online CBT therapy is a good solution, to get started, simply fill out this questionnaire on Betterhelp to be matched with an online therapist.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a problem in which you hear noises that are not coming from somewhere else. Many people describe it as a ringing sound, while others describe it as whistling, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring, or even shouting.

The sound could be coming in one or both ears, from inside the head, or from afar. It could be steady or pulsating, and it could be continuous or intermittent. The majority of tinnitus is subjective, meaning you are the only one who can hear it.

However, it is occasionally objective, which means that someone else can hear it as well. Pulsatile tinnitus is a condition in which some people hear their heartbeat within their ears.

Additionally, pulsatile tinnitus is more prone to occur in older persons because blood flow in arteries with stiffer walls is more turbulent.

Tinnitus frequently coexists with other hearing disorders, which is why a tinnitus-centric approach to hearing treatment is frequently among the most successful solutions available.

The majority of persons who seek medical treatment for tinnitus describe it as a subjective, persistent sound, such as ringing in the ears or a buzzing sound in the ear, and the majority have some degree of hearing loss.

Tinnitus can occur everywhere along the auditory pathway, from the outer ear to the middle and inner ear, and is assumed to be encoded in the brain’s auditory cortex.

The majority of tinnitus is “sensorineural,” which means it is caused by hearing loss at the cochlea or cochlear nerve level. Tinnitus, on the other hand, can arise from a variety of sources.

Because we are listening to external noises, our bodies regularly emit sounds called somatic sounds that we do not perceive. Somatic noises can be brought to our notice by anything that interferes with regular hearing.

How Effective is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy?

Tinnitus retraining therapy uses sound therapy and directional psychotherapy over a period of 12 to 24 months. Furthermore, this treatment addresses the three systems involved which include the auditory system, the limbic system, and the autonomic nervous system.

Tinnitus retraining therapy was established in response to the realization that, while hearing aids and maskers might theoretically cover up evidence of tinnitus, these sorts of equipment fail to address the fundamental issue.

Moreover, tinnitus relief can be seen early on in the TRT procedure, but a complete 12-month treatment and commitment are required to ensure that patients do not revert to previous levels of tinnitus.

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Using Online CBT To Treat Tinnitus

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a great treatment for tinnitus, but CBT is less effective on other issues such trauma or PTSD . Many scientific pieces of research have shown how effective CBT can be in minimizing the feeling of ringing in the ears.

CBT is a sort of psychological therapy that was initially used to treat depression. However, it is now a proven method of treatment for insomnia, chronic pain, tinnitus, and a variety of other problems.

Furthermore, it works by identifying any underlying negative ideas, beliefs, or attitudes that are influencing your moods and behaviors. You can attempt to modify any problematic thought patterns concerning tinnitus by identifying what you think and believe about it.

Seeking online CBT treatment for tinnitus is a better option as compared to the traditional therapy method. With the help of platforms like BetterHelp individuals can get online CBT treatment for their Tinnitus.

Online treatment allows you to focus on your healing from the convenience of your own home. Moreover, through BetterHelp online treatment, you will save time and money since you will not have to go to the therapy office or deal with transportation issues.

BetterHelp CBT treatment for tinnitus is a fantastic choice for those who reside in distant places without access to health care and would otherwise be unable to seek help nearby.

In a 2010 research of randomized controlled studies, for example, researchers discovered that individuals who received CBT had higher quality of life than those who received no therapy or other therapies.

BetterHelp enables customers to communicate with their therapist in a variety of ways. Communication can take place over the phone, video, message, or chat options. This function allows you to select the option that is most convenient for you.

How Does CBT Tinnitus Treatment work?

According to research, it is not the tinnitus itself but how an individual responds to it that decides whether you will progressively habituate or continue to suffer.

There are typically roughly 20 modules, with two to three delivered weekly during a six-to-eight-week period. The content encourages tinnitus awareness and acceptance, and empowerment to better manage tinnitus.

BetterHelp’s CBT for Tinnitus program incorporates standard cognitive behavioral therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), all of which have been found to significantly reduce tinnitus discomfort.

CBT encourages patients to transform their internal dialogue of negative beliefs through a process known as cognitive restructuring.

With ACT, patients are urged to accept unpleasant events such as pain, emotions, feelings, and memories. It is important to begin CBT as soon as possible after the development of tinnitus.

Online CBT sessions include the patient and healthcare professional collaborating to identify the problematic ideas. Following that, the individuals and physicians collaborate to create realistic plans for the patient to take control of his or her negative emotions.

CBT consists of six to ten weekly therapy sessions. The sessions can be done individually or in small groups. Each session focuses on a distinct subject, which includes tinnitus education, sleep hygiene, stress management, relaxation, and cognitive restructuring.

An individual’s CBT procedure will be unique. BetterHelp professionals will customize the CBT tinnitus treatment according to your needs.

Effectiveness of CBT For Tinnitus

Individuals suffering from tinnitus frequently spend a large portion of their time attempting to ignore it. However, it frequently appears to become louder.

Tinnitus can affect people of any age, however, it is less frequent in children. Furthermore, tinnitus that is unpleasant should be examined by a healthcare professional such as an otolaryngologist or an audiologist.

Additionally, many people who suffer from tinnitus fall into a vicious cycle of anxiety and melancholy. Anxiety aggravates the disease. Then, as the situation worsens, they get more unhappy and nervous.

According to the findings, online cognitive behavioral treatment was as effective as traditional face-to-face care in lowering tinnitus discomfort and most tinnitus-related issues.

According to clinical studies, CBT is proven to considerably improve tinnitus symptoms. However, it is important to note that, for the greatest outcomes, any underlying medical or environmental problem that is producing the symptoms should be treated as well.

Is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Over 50 million individuals in the United States suffer from tinnitus. For the most part, the experience lasts for a few seconds or up to a few minutes at a time for most people.

Others, estimated at 12 million individuals, suffer from tinnitus that is either chronic or recurrent and interferes with their everyday lives to the point that they seek professional help.

Tinnitus can cause sleep loss, difficulty focusing or reading, and unpleasant emotional reactions such as despair, irritation, and melancholy.

However, tinnitus retraining therapy is often not covered by private medical insurance or even online platforms like BetterHelp since it is deemed experimental or investigational.

BetterHelp.com is a subscription-based service. The weekly rates range from $60 to $90 which is invoiced monthly. On the other hand, they have financial assistance available.

To determine your eligibility, BetterHelp will ask you to complete a brief survey about your job status and monthly income.

People in rural or remote places can now get mental health information and treatment through online therapy. Those who reside in such places may not have access to any other type of mental health care since there are few or no mental health practices in their area.

Driving great distances and taking substantial time away from a hectic schedule to seek treatment can be a strain for many people in need of assistance.

If you have good internet connectivity, online CBT for tinnitus therapy provides you with reasonably rapid and easy access to treatment that was previously unavailable to you.

Final Thoughts

The goal of online CBT for tinnitus is to enhance self-efficacy by enhancing individuals’ confidence in managing their own tinnitus.

This involves identifying problematic thoughts and behaviors, increasing problem-solving abilities. And planning how to deal with potential setbacks in the future.

CBT assists a person in processing the emotions associated with this condition. As a result, people might gradually break free from the vicious cycle.

Furthermore, individuals can learn to manage their emotions. Which will help them to disassociate tinnitus with unpleasant behavioral responses.