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MENIERE\'S DISEASE: TINNITUS RETRAINING THERAPY (TRT)
This new technique developed by Hazell and based on the work of Jastreboff has recently been introduced to Australia and is widely regarded as the most exciting development on the tinnitus scene for some time. Like all therapies, it will have to be evaluated over time before a verdict can be given, but its exponents claim high success rates in abolishing or alleviating tinnitus.
The therapy involves firstly training people to regard their tinnitus sounds as non-threatening, and then habituating or desensitizing them to their sounds using a low level white noise sound. The success of TRT relies on the principle that the brain will gradually learn to ignore a continuous sound presented to it, just as we are normally unaware of continuous low level sounds in our environment. Note that this is not the same as masking, where we attempt to \'drown out\' the tinnitus using higher level sound. A device similar to a masking device is used, but in TRT it is referred to as a \'noise generator\'.
This new technique seems to offer fresh hope and certainly should be considered by the tinnitus sufferer. Several centers now offer the technique in Australia and a list can be obtained from your state audiological association. Like other techniques, however, it will not produce instant results and must be worked at - often over many months.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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