Break Free of Tinnitus

CBT is often oversimplified to mean “change how you think to change how you feel.” In fact, this is based on an older, out of date version of CBT. Today CBT stands for a family of clinically proven therapies for tinnitus that involve changing how we think, pay attention, and take action in relation to tinnitus. The goal is not to change tinnitus (no one knows how to do that), but to change how we respond and relate to tinnitus. Doing this softens our perception of tinnitus, helps us adapt and move forward in reengaging effectively in all the important areas of our lives. 

While many treatments promise tinnitus relief, CBT is the only proven approach, with over a dozen well-controlled clinical trials showing it helps. CBT is the only tinnitus treatment recommended by the American Academy of Otolaryngologists (ENTs; the AAO-HNS), the Cochrane Group, and the European Multidisciplinary Tinnitus Guidelines. 

If you're struggling with tinnitus and its impact on your daily life, this program is designed for you. Whether your tinnitus is mild or severe, recent onset or long-term, CBT provides effective tools and strategies for relief. 

Yes, many people meet with Dr Hubbard for a individual coaching session before enrolling in the course. If you choose to enroll, this can be one of the two individual coaching sessions bundled with the course. You may also choose to stop after one session, or schedule a follow up individual coaching session and skip the course.

Many people come to this program having been disappointed by other tinnitus treatments, including Lenire, Neosensory and TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy). CBT offers a very different approach to tinnitus. Instead of relying on a device and passively waiting for improvement, CBT empowers you with the skills needed to take charge of your response to tinnitus, and to refocus on fully rejoining your life. Many people prefer this action-oriented approach which puts the control back in their own hands. 

Over the course of CBT, people generally do report that their tinnitus becomes less intense and intrusive. However, CBT won’t fundamentally change your tinnitus. No one can do that. CBT will teach you how to reduce your reaction to tinnitus, its impact on your functioning (sleep, concentration, ability to let go and relax) and set you on the path to full recovery.

CBT is the most clinically-proven treatment for tinnitus, but, unfortunately, there are very few qualified cognitive behavior therapists who are trained and experienced in treating tinnitus distress. ACE Your Tinnitus is one of few, qualified sources of CBT for tinnitus.

Audiologists are not qualified to provide cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Cognitive behavior therapy is a behavioral health treatment provided by licensed behavioral health professionals. Some audiologists provide TRT counseling along with tinnitus maskers. TRT counseling may include simple coping strategies, like breathing, relaxation, and positive self-talk. If your tinnitus distress is mild, this may be sufficient. But these simple stress management strategies are not CBT and should not be called CBT.  If your tinnitus is accompanied by moderate to severe worry, anxiety, insomnia, concentration impairment, avoidance and withdrawal, ACE Your Tinnitus, often in combination with a local behavioral health professional, is the correct program for you.

No. Proponents of TRT often cite an 85% improvement rate, however, there are no scientifically controlled studies to support this claim. In fact, at present, scientific evidence on the effectiveness of tinnitus maskers and tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is at best mixed. In their clinical guidelines, the American Academy of Otolaryngology (Ear-Nose-Throat doctors) warns of the “high expense” and “unproven effectiveness” of sound therapy and cautions their proponents against “instilling false hope.” While some people definitely benefit from maskers and TRT, the program is very expensive. There are inexpensive ways to take advantage of sound therapy. In ACE Your Tinnitus, you’ll learn these methods. 

Some people do find tinnitus maskers helpful in conjunction with CBT. However, many people find masking to be as or more distracting than tinnitus itself. They find CBT methods, which give them direct control over their response to tinnitus, more helpful. Also, maskers are just one of many methods for accessing the benefits of sound therapy. In ACE Your Tinnitus, you’ll learn inexpensive methods to self-administer sound therapy in conjunction with CBT. 

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is a particular form of sound therapy that counsels patients to “never be in silence” and to keep sound therapy on 24/7. This advice is incompatible with CBT. In CBT sound therapy is used only as needed and in conjunction with other, more powerful strategies. The goal is to improve your ability to hear your tinnitus effectively, without the need for constant masking. If you are currently in TRT, I recommend that you ask your audiologist to take a look at what this program involves and ask them whether they think this program is right for you. 

If you have moderate to severe hearing loss, hearing aids will help you hear better. However, at present there are no scientifically controlled studies supporting hearing aids as a treatment for tinnitus. While some people find them helpful, many do not. Hearing aids can themselves become a distraction, a source of embarrassment, and a constant reminder that tinnitus is a problem. From a CBT perspective, purchase of hearing aids for tinnitus alone should be a last resort. Also, the use of hearing aids for the sole purpose of tinnitus masking is unnecessary. There are much cheaper alternatives. You’ll learn these alternatives in ACE Your Tinnitus. 

I’ve created this course with an adult audience in mind. Teenagers may certainly benefit, but be aware that the content is geared toward adult issues. 

This program is first and foremost an educational program designed to give you the tools and techniques to reduce attention to tinnitus and rebuild a rich and meaningful life. It is not a substitute for therapy. Therapy takes into account many other personal variables that cannot be covered through coaching and a course.  However, very few therapists have training and experience to help with tinnitus. This course may supplement your work in therapy. If you are seeing a therapist, I recommend that you ask them to take a look at what the program involves and ask them whether they think the program is right for you. 

There’s nothing crazy about being distressed by tinnitus. Tinnitus can be awful, and a distress phase is common. Getting the right help for a serious challenge like tinnitus is not weak. It’s smart. CBT is different from other forms of psychotherapy. You don’t just “talk about the problem.” It’s a way of taking charge of your response to tinnitus. You set concrete goals and learn practical strategies to achieve them. Think of CBT as physical therapy for the brain. You learn new ways of behaving, thinking, and paying attention to strengthen emotional muscle and reduce the burden of tinnitus.