Directive counselling in tinnitus retraining therapy

ABSTRACT

Tinnitus retraining therapy [TRT] focuses on the behavioural retraining of the associations induced by tinnitus perception and on inducing and further facilitating the process of habituation of tinnitus perception. It has two main elements directive counselling which is more important and sound therapy.To determine the effects [success or failure] of counselling in TRT as a habituation method in the management of patients suffering from tinnitus. Full history taking, clinical examination [otoscopic, audiologic and medical], and categorisation of patients according to TRT categories in 137 chronic tinnitus patients into groups I 52 patients receiving counselling only [TRT Category 0], group II 21 patients receiving counselling and noise generators [TRT category 1], and III 34 patients receiving counselling and hearing aids [TRT category 2] and group IV 30 patients receiving medication. The Tinnitus H and icap Inventory [THI] translated into Arabic was used for scoring. A pre- and post-treatment score difference of at least 20 points revealed effectiveness of TRT compared to medical treatment.But was not revealed if the patient changed to a less severe h and icap with a score difference of 18.56 +/- 10.48. Although THI exists an important guide in individual management and monitoring to evaluate tinnitus treatment outcome, comparing the results with other studies is difficult due to the non-st and ardized scoring of the real improvement as well as the different questionnaires used.