Name of treatment |
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) |
|
Type of treatment |
Educational counselling and use of sound therapy |
|
Claims for treatment |
Reduces/eliminates the tinnitus percept. |
|
How treatment is delivered |
A specific protocol for delivering educational counselling and sound therapy is followed. Many practitioners follow modified forms. |
| Potential negative consequences | The literature describes no negative side effects. TRT in its classic form is delivered privately, so cost may be an issue. |
Evidence offered: |
|
|
Papers available |
2 (1 considered in the Cochrane review[1]) |
|
Conclusions drawn |
A single, low‐quality randomised controlled trial suggests that TRT is more effective as a treatment for patients with tinnitus than tinnitus masking.1 A further randomised control showed that TRT was more effective than standard care.[2] |
|
Quality of evidence[3] |
A/B |
|
Does the BTA recommend this treatment? |
No |
|
BTA opinion on this treatment: |
TRT has been very influential on tinnitus work, but has been poorly researched. |
|
Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment? |
Yes, if high quality study. An updated systematic review would also be beneficial. |
|
Verdict: Safety – is this treatment harmful? |
Generally regarded as safe |
|
Verdict: Efficacy – does this treatment work? |
Limited evidence of effectiveness. |
|
Comments |
Research on this protocol is of poor quality. |
[1] Phillips JS, McFerran D. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) for tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD007330. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007330.pub2..
[2] Bauer CA, Berry JL, Brozoski TJ. The effect of tinnitus retraining therapy on chronic tinnitus: A controlled trial. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2017;2(4):166–177. Published 2017 May 28. doi:10.1002/lio2.76
[3] A = Systematic review/meta analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands
Download this information:
Tinnitus_and_tinnitus_retraining_therapy_TRT_April_2019.pdf
Published 15 April 2019
