Tinnitus is a common symptom reported by about 17% of the general population (44 million people in the USA) and 33% of the elderly. It causes significant suffering in about 4% of the general population (10 million in the USA). Tinnitus may be described as a ringing roaring, hissing, buzzing or clicking sound 'in the ear' or 'in the head.' The perception of these sounds is very real but not related to any external sound source. Therefore, tinnitus can be classified as a phantom auditory perception.

Tinnitus may be pronounced /tinn i' tus/ or /tinn i tus/. Varying opinions not only involve the pronunciation of the term but also the etiology of tinnitus and appropriate treatment of tinnitus.

At the Georgia Tinnitus Clinic a multidisciplinary team composed of a neurotologist, audiologist and occupational therapist address treatment of tinnitus. Treatment may include electrical stimulation, biofeedback, medication and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. Each treatment plan is individually planned and monitored by the clinical staff.

Electrical stimulation involves treating the outside of the ear with small electric current. Each treatment takes 1/2 hour per ear and 6 initial treatments are recommended. Of 800 tinnitus patients treated with electrical stimulation at our clinic, tinnitus was reduced in one half of the patients. Biofeedback training is typically used in conjunction with electrical stimulation. Biofeedback involves teaching the person with tinnitus to exert conscious control over the areas of the body which were thought to be outside of the control of the conscious mind. Instruments are used to sense and amplify impulses coming from body parts one wishes to alter. This information can be used by the person to modify and alter processes associated with tinnitus by relaxing muscles in the head and neck and increasing blood flow.

If electrical stimulation and biofeedback are not helpful, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is recommended. This therapy is based on Dr. Pawel Jastreboff's research. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is based on the neurophysiological model of tinnitus which demonstrates the while tinnitus may arise from the cochlea (inner ear) due to changes in outer hair cells (OHC) and inner hair cells (IHC) -- it is the response to the tinnitus from the emotional (limbic) and autonomic nervous system that result in tinnitus annoyance. The auditory system provides the signal (tinnitus) but the clinical problem emerges when this signal through activation of the limbic and autonomic nervous system evokes a strong negative reaction in the brain and throughout the body.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) utilizes a low level noise generator, auditory retraining and directive counseling to facilitate habituation of tinnitus. The noise generators are worn in each ear for 8 hours per day for approximately 18 months. The goal is NOT to mask the tinnitus -- as this would preclude habituation. The goal is to reduce the annoyance associated with tinnitus utilizing the low level noise generators, auditory retraining and directive counseling. Dr. Jasstreboff reports significant improvement in 80% of the patients treated.