Habituation following Tinnitus Retraining Therapy in Tinnitus Sufferers

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) in habituating patients with tinnitus.

Method: Prospective study of patients presenting to the tinnitus clinic at a tertiary referral otorhinolaryngology unit in Singapore over a 13-year period (1997 to 2010). Patients who underwent Tinnitus Retraining therapy were followed up with structured interviews with the aid of questionnaire forms. Habituation following TRT was evaluated.

Results: A total of 702 patients were studied (55% male, 45% female). Average age was 51 years. Habituation of reaction to tinnitus and habituation of perception were analyzed. Average duration of follow-up was 33 months (range, 0.25-151 months). A total of 68% of patients described improvement in annoyance following TRT. Of these, 80% described habituation of perception as well. There was no statistical difference in gender and age between patients who did and did not respond to TRT. However, duration of treatment was significantly longer in patients who habituated.

Conclusion: The goal of TRT is to achieve habituation of reaction to tinnitus. Habituation of perception is often a secondary result of sufficiently habituated response. From our study, more than two-thirds of patients with tinnitus achieved habituation of reaction, and of these, the majority also habituated to awareness of the tinnitus.