Foundations of my Methods
Progressive Tinnitus Management
Progressive Tinnitus Management (PTM) is a scientifically structured, step-by-step approach designed to help individuals treated at the V.A. hospitals better self-manage their tinnitus. This evidence-based program offers support ranging from basic education about tinnitus to graduated more advanced treatment strategies and treatments for those with increasingly significant distress. PTM is typically divided into 5 levels: self-help education by workbook, group study, or internet study, skills training, entry level medical ear care, individualized medical support by various medical specialists as needed, trial use of hearing aids, and possibly managed use of specialized tinnitus therapies and treatment devices provided by audiologists specialized in tinnitus. PTM is intended to empower individuals to regain more personal control of their tinnitus experience and quality of life. I have carefully adapted the V.A. institutional care model to the general public private and HMO practice public, which is significantly different in many ways.
Tinnitus Pyramids
Individualized Support- specialized tinnitus devices and therapies
Interdisciplinary Evaluation- by specialists from different medical fields
Group Education- or Internet or workbook self-study
Triage- determining who to see you at medical entry care first
Materials developed by is Veterans Administration (VA) and the National Center for Rehabilitative Audiology Research (NCRAR) staff.
Do Something about Tinnitus
You don’t have to live with tinnitus as an unmanageable burden. In most cases, there are effective steps and treatments available to help reduce its impact on daily life. Many individuals find relief through approaches like sound therapy, lifestyle changes, and other management techniques that can significantly lessen symptoms. Explore this published article to discover practical next steps and learn more about how you can regain control and improve your quality of life with tinnitus.
From Cleveland Clinic’s Tinnitus Management Clinic & published by the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, vol. 78, 5 may 2011
Warning Signs of Tinnitus
This educational article serves as a public service resource for doctors to consider medically serious conditions that may present with tinnitus. It highlights key warning signs and symptoms that could indicate underlying health issues such as cardiovascular disorders, auditory nerve tumors, or vascular abnormalities, underscoring the importance of thorough evaluations.
Materials from Journal of Family Practice but written by VA National Center for Rehabilitative Audiology Research (NCRAR)
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals with tinnitus gradually reduce their awareness and response to the sound. It combines sound therapy, which introduces low-level background noise to mask or blend with the tinnitus, and counseling, which addresses the emotional and psychological impact of tinnitus. Through consistent application, TRT can effectively "retrain" the brain to diminish the negative reaction to tinnitus sounds, making them less noticeable over time. Many find that TRT provides lasting relief by fostering a sense of control and significantly improving quality of life.
Material written by Pawel J. Jastreboff, Ph.D., Emory State University, Atlanta, Georgia, and published by American Tinnitus Association’s Tinnitus Today, April 1998