A comparison between tinnitus retraining therapy and a simplified version in treatment of tinnitus in adults

Background and Aim: Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) comprises comprehensive educational counseling and sound therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of TRT relative to a simplified version of TRT (sTRT). Simplified TRT is different from TRT in the duration and type of the educational counseling (shorter) but is similar to TRT in the application of sound therapy. Methods: This was a retrospective service evaluation survey and the data were collected from 12 consecutive patients who received TRT and 12 patients who received sTRT. The average duration of tinnitus was six years (SD=7.9) with a range between one month and 30 years. All patients received between three and six months of treatment, which typically involved three to four appointments. Results: The results showed that scores on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the visual analog scale of tinnitus loudness, annoyance and effect on life declined significantly (improved) for both TRT and sTRT groups (p<0.05). 75% of the patients receiving TRT and 83% of patients receiving sTRT exhibited a decline of 25 or more in THI score. The mean decline in the THI scores was 34 (SD=14) for the TRT group, and 41 (SD=21) for the sTRT group, and the difference in means was not statistically significant (p=0.34). Conclusion: The results suggest that the duration and type of counseling does not play a critical role in treatment outcome and sTRT may be used when time constraints do not allow the full treatment.