Treatment of Tinnitus with Tinnitus Retraining Therapy in Iraq

Abstract

Background: Tinnitus is a common complaint of our Iraqi patients, it varies in severity and it can combine other diseases, there are big confusions of treatment of this common complaint in our medical society, among the methods of treatment of tinnitus, tinnitus retraining therapy is applied worldwide.Aim of the Study: Is to determine the success of using tinnitus retraining program for habituation and relief of catastrophic non-reversible tinnitus for Iraqi patients. Patients and methods: A cross sectional study of 50 patients complaining of sever or catastrophic nonreversible tinnitus that was associated with no systemic diseases were treated with tinnitus masking and psychological support (tinnitus retraining therapy), and followed up for 6 months to assess the final results of this method.Results: Twenty eight patients (56%) got complete relief, 15 patients (30%) got near complete relief, 5 patients (10%) got partial relief and only 2 patients (4%) did not get any benefit.Statistical analysis showed significant difference in THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) before and after treatment for the patients included in this study (P value < 0.01).Conclusion: Tinnitus retraining therapy is a successful method to treat tinnitus in IRAQ and should be adopted by our medical staff.Key words: Tinnitus, Tinnitus Masker, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, Noise Generator