Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Mixing Point and Total Masking Are Equally Effective

Objectives: Habituation to tinnitus cannot occur with total masking, an argument made by proponents of tinnitus retraining therapy. We also compared the effectiveness of retraining therapy with mixing-point masking, total masking, and with counseling alone. Design: Forty-eight tinnitus patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: counseling, counseling plus bilateral noise generators set to completely mask the tinnitus, or counseling plus bilateral noise generators with a focus on the mixing point (partial masking just below total masking). A picture-based counseling protocol was used to assist in providing similar counseling among all three groups. The Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire was administered before and after about 12 months of treatment. Results: After 12 months, in the counseling group, three of 18 patients benefited significantly, in the mixing-point group, six of 19 patients benefited, and in the total masking group, four of 11 patients benefited from the treatment. The average decrease in the questionnaire was 16.7% for the counseling group, 31.6% for the retraining group, and 36.4% for the total masking group. No significant average differences among groups were observed. Conclusions: One premise of retraining therapy is incorrect; a focus on mixing-point masking is not required for habituation.