Tinnitus Retraining Therapy in Calgary, AB

Overcome Tinnitus Through Personalized Treatment and Support

No two tinnitus sufferers are alike. Because this condition affects each person in unique ways, Tinnitus and Hearing Health Calgary does not believe in treatments that only address one component of tinnitus (some focus only on the auditory component, while others only on the psychological aspect). Rather, we use a uniquely integrative tinnitus therapy approach, as advocated by leading tinnitus experts, that addresses multiple components of what makes tinnitus so complex.

What is TART?

TART stands for Tinnitus Activities Retraining Therapy, an approach unique to Tinnitus and Hearing Health Calgary that combines Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and Tinnitus Activities Treatment, two of the most talked about and commonly used tinnitus management programs recommended by the American Speech and Hearing Association that can be used to treat not only tinnitus, but also decreased sound tolerance (hyperacusis and misophonia).

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

Since its development in 1990 by Dr. Pawel Jastreboff, TRT has been used to reprogram how a tinnitus sufferer interprets their tinnitus sounds by combining sound therapy with directive counseling. With TRT, sound therapy creates a background of sound to make the tinnitus less noticeable, which can induce tinnitus relief. TRT involves fairly extensive counseling known as directive counseling, which is based on Jastreboff’s very well-known neurophysiological model that is used to help sufferers understand that tinnitus is a meaningless signal. The combination of sound therapy and counseling with TRT is designed to lead to habituation, meaning that you will no longer actively attention to your tinnitus and will not react to it even if you do become aware of it. Used worldwide, the success rates of TRT range from 80-88% (e.g, Bartnik, Fabijanska & Rogowski, 1999; Heitzmann et al, 1999; Herraiz et al, 1999).

Tinnitus Activities Treatment (TAT)

Based on over 20 years of research at the University of Iowa by Dr. Richard Tyler, TAT takes a slightly different approach in that counseling tends to be more interactive rather than directive, and focus on four specific functions that can be impaired as a result of tinnitus: 1) thoughts and emotions, 2) hearing, 3) sleep, and 4) concentration. Sound therapy is used to help decrease the prominence of the tinnitus and help ease the tinnitus sufferer into habituation, but habituation is not the only goal here.

How Does TART Work?

As Bonita Chow is one of very few Audiologists in Canada with dual training in both TRT and TAT, it does not make sense for us to offer only one strategy or the other, especially when both methods have the potential to help any given tinnitus sufferer. This hybrid approach also enables us to combine into one protocol all recommended elements of treatment according to the 2014 Clinical Practice Guideline for Tinnitus established by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Regardless of which theories one subscribes to, experts agree that the most effective tinnitus management strategies are the ones that focus on multiple dimensions of what makes tinnitus so bothersome.

At Tinnitus and Hearing Health Calgary, all of our treatment options treat the the whole person, and considers individual differences and needs.

So how do we combine TRT and TAT?

We use the principles and rigorous protocols of TRT when it comes to assessing your tinnitus as well as educating you about this condition, how our auditory system works, and how your brain can be retrained to adapt to treat tinnitus as meaningless and non-threatening. Traditional TRT, when followed in its strictest sense, can take 9-18 months to complete.

However, at Tinnitus and Hearing Health Calgary, we want to do much better than that.

Using a far more holistic and adaptive protocol that takes into account the principles of TAT, we also address how tinnitus is affecting your quality of life. Over the course of 6 months, we will consider how your concentration, hearing and communication, sleep, as well as your thoughts and emotions are all being affected by your tinnitus. Because we are attacking tinnitus from multiple angles instead of just one, we can expect to see consistent and measurable results in 6 months instead of the 9-18 months in traditional TRT. After your 6-month TART program has concluded, we do recommend periodic maintenance sessions just to make sure you stay on track.

While sound therapy may also be recommended to help transform your perception of tinnitus, TART will help transform your reaction to your condition so that even though you may have tinnitus, tinnitus will no longer have you.

The Tinnitus and Hearing Health Calgary Difference

Although sound therapy is an important component of tinnitus treatment, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Many clinics rely on sound therapy devices exclusively without an integrated, multi-modal tinnitus management program. Doing so oversimplifies your concerns and doesn’t address your specific needs. For example, many tinnitus sufferers report difficulty falling asleep at night or difficulties relaxing or concentrating.

At Tinnitus and Hearing Health Calgary, we believe that the most effective way of reducing the impact of tinnitus needs to include a more holistic approach. A key component of our Tinnitus Toolbox, Sound Therapy is individualized to reflect your unique health, psychological, and social needs.

Tinnitus Sound Generators: discreet, ear-worn instruments with a built-in tinnitus sound generators that can also be used as a hearing aid (when applicable). The hearing aid component can be deactivated for persons with normal hearing who need tinnitus relief. Although white noise is commonly used for tinnitus relief, many of our clients prefer soothing music or chimes, as studies have shown music has added relaxation and stress-relief benefits that white noise does not. However, research shows that there is no tinnitus therapy sound that is more effective than others; that’s why Tinnitus and Hearing Health Calgary will not only offer you a choice on what therapy sounds will be used, but we take it a step further by customizing them, whenever possible, so they provide you the most relief.

Hearing aids: beneficial for tinnitus sufferers with significant hearing loss. It’s not uncommon for some tinnitus sufferers to blame their tinnitus for communication difficulties that are actually caused by hearing loss. Hearing aids improve speech perception, which relieves frustration and isolation. They also help stimulate the auditory system and can reduce the neural activity responsible for tinnitus generation and perception.

Treatment packages from $4,300

Will Insurance Cover Tinnitus Treatment?

Some coverage may be available under some insurance programs, such as Healthcare Spending Accounts, or if your plan has a general Audiology category. Funding for assistive devices for hearing or tinnitus may also be available if you have Hearing Aid coverage. Government assistance is available for Albertans with hearing loss who are over 65 years of age or who qualify as low-income.

What You Need To Know About Tinnitus

If you’re reading this, chances are you are suffering from some sort of ringing/buzzing/hissing noises in your ears/head. Perhaps you’ve already talked to your family doctor or an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist and were told that “nothing can be done”.

Not so! Just because there’s no cure, doesn’t mean that there is no help! You may not be able to get rid of your tinnitus, but we specialize in giving you relief from your symptoms as well as reducing the negative effects of your tinnitus to the point where you will barely notice it.

Tinnitus is a very complex and poorly understood phenomenon; not surprisingly, there is so much misinformation out there that even some healthcare professionals know next to nothing about it. We’re here to change that!

Talk to the experts.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus (TIN-a-tus or tin-EYE-tus) refers to the phantom perception of sound without an external sound source. Although tinnitus is commonly known as “ringing in the ears”, ringing is actually only one of many phantom sounds that people experience. Other perceived tinnitus noises include hissing, static, buzzing, whooshing, roaring, ocean waves, buzzing and clicking.

Like chronic pain, tinnitus is subjective; the severity is largely a function of how you react to your own symptoms. While the intensity can vary, tinnitus can have a serious impact on your life, leading to sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety.

Tinnitus can be very distressing and disruptive and tinnitus management can bring relief.

Where is the tinnitus coming from and will it go away?

Tinnitus it is not a disease, but a symptom of underlying issues. While there is no single cause, factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes, being overweight, high cholesterol, having a history of noise exposure, a major depressive disorder, a generalized anxiety disorder, and/or existing hearing loss can increase the likelihood of experiencing frequent tinnitus. Although tinnitus can be present in individuals with normal hearing, it is often attributed to hearing loss.

There are many changes in brain activity that occur throughout the auditory pathway in association with tinnitus. Although it’s unlikely we can make it go away, it is possible to retrain the brain to lessen the prominence of your tinnitus and the amount of attention you pay to it.

The best tinnitus management approaches work by relieving the functional effects of tinnitus, such as sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, problems with hearing, and difficulty relaxing. It’s important to keep in mind that although tinnitus cannot be cured, you can learn to manage your reactions to it and improve your quality of life.

Who can I talk to about my tinnitus?

To rule out any medically treatable conditions that could be contributing to your tinnitus, it’s always a good idea to see your family doctor or ask for a referral to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Specialist. Remember though, their focus is on evaluating whether there is anything they can do for you from a medical or surgical standpoint. For the vast majority of cases, tinnitus cannot be medically corrected. However, please do not be discouraged when they tell you “there’s no cure for tinnitus”. No medical solutions does not mean there is no help available!

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy in Calgary, AB

Overcome Tinnitus Through Personalized Treatment and Support

What You Need To Know About Tinnitus

Talk to the experts.

What is Tinnitus?

Where is the tinnitus coming from and will it go away?

Who can I talk to about my tinnitus?

Don't wait! Take control of your tinnitus now!

Talk to the Experts

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