Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. Seventeen per cent of the general population is affected by tinnitus. Success has been noted for over eighty per cent of patients who receive treatment. Due to the plasticity of the nervous system, gradual changes can occur. However, relief is often experienced in the early stages.
Counseling is imperative to demystify tinnitus.
Treatment Devices or Hearing Aids may be recommended as part of this process. Hyperacusis treatment is similar, however, the setting of the devices follows a desensitization process. The initial visit for tinnitus or hyperacusis may be two or three hours. Follow-up visits for tinnitus are scheduled at three, six, and twelve weeks and every six months until completion of treatment. In general, the process takes eighteen months to two years.