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Do you find yourself hearing sounds that no one else does? If so, you may be experiencing tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of sounds that do not have an external source and are not heard by others around you. People who experience tinnitus describe the sounds in different ways, such as ringing, roaring and buzzing. People may experience tinnitus for months or even years, and living with tinnitus can feel overwhelming for some people.1
While a cure may not be possible for tinnitus, there are several treatments your doctor may recommend to help manage symptoms, including tinnitus retraining therapy.1
What Is Tinnitus Retraining Therapy?
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a treatment that uses counseling and sound therapy to decrease your perception of the ringing, roaring, buzzing or other sounds you experience from tinnitus.1
The goal of TRT is to reduce symptom awareness and minimize how symptoms impact daily life.2 Reducing these symptoms may, therefore, decrease the stress and anxiety caused by tinnitus.
TRT combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) performed by counselors with sound therapy that is performed by an audiologist:2
- Counseling guides you to reclassify the tinnitus sounds as neutral.1 This reclassification allows you to minimize focus on the tinnitus sounds and increases your focus on actual sounds in your environment. Counseling has been seen as the most important element for managing tinnitus and these sessions can help educate you about the areas of the brain responsible for tinnitus. This increased understanding can help remove any fear or anxiety you are experiencing as a result of your tinnitus. Typically, counseling for TRT lasts for six to 18 months, depending on your response to treatment.
- Sound therapy uses a device that provides you with a continuous external sound that can help you decrease your focus on your tinnitus symptoms. The wearable sound generator fits into the ear or can be a feature built into a hearing aid.
How Much Does Tinnitus Retraining Therapy Cost?
The national average cost* of 24 months of tinnitus retraining therapy is $3,022 and can range between $2,415 and $5,296. These costs can vary due to therapists' fees, length of treatment and sound equipment used.3
Additionally, before you undergo tinnitus retraining therapy, you may need a tinnitus hearing test. The average cost* for the tinnitus hearing test is $121 and can range from $97 to $234. Costs can vary depending on geographic location and if any additional hearing assessments are needed.3
Average cost of tinnitus retraining therapy by state/district
Below are the average costs* of 24 months of tinnitus retraining therapy across all 50 states and the District of Columbia:3
| State/District | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $2,674 |
| Alaska | $3,670 |
| Arizona | $3,023 |
| Arkansas | $2,661 |
| California | $3,778 |
| Colorado | $3,036 |
| Connecticut | $3,269 |
| Delaware | $3,007 |
| District of Columbia | $3,909 |
| Florida | $3,020 |
| Georgia | $2,706 |
| Hawaii | $4,320 |
| Idaho | $3,065 |
| Illinois | $2,878 |
| Indiana | $2,625 |
| Iowa | $2,629 |
| Kansas | $2,761 |
| Kentucky | $2,803 |
| Louisiana | $2,826 |
| Maine | $3,043 |
| Maryland | $3,453 |
| Massachusetts | $3,702 |
| Michigan | $2,755 |
| Minnesota | $2,836 |
| Mississippi | $2,710 |
| Missouri | $2,635 |
| Montana | $2,991 |
| Nebraska | $2,739 |
| Nevada | $3,026 |
| New Hampshire | $3,159 |
| New Jersey | $3,460 |
| New Mexico | $2,739 |
| New York | $3,343 |
| North Carolina | $2,832 |
| North Dakota | $2,765 |
| Ohio | $2,790 |
| Oklahoma | $2,571 |
| Oregon | $3,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,936 |
| Rhode Island | $3,088 |
| South Carolina | $2,758 |
| South Dakota | $2,687 |
| Tennessee | $2,671 |
| Texas | $2,788 |
| Utah | $2,988 |
| Vermont | $3,062 |
| Virginia | $2,952 |
| Washington | $3,431 |
| West Virginia | $2,671 |
| Wisconsin | $2,813 |
| Wyoming | $2,807 |
Does Insurance Cover Tinnitus Retraining Therapy?
Tinnitus retraining therapy is not typically covered by private medical insurance or Medicare because it is considered investigational or experimental therapy. That being said, if you require hearing aids, you may be eligible for coverage of some of the costs of new devices that feature tinnitus masking.4
How Does Tinnitus Retraining Therapy Work?
As with most medical therapies, TRT should be tailored to your specific needs. The duration of therapy and course of treatment vary from person to person.
Preparation
Keeping an open mind is important when approaching any new treatment. If you are frustrated with your tinnitus and feel that nothing will help, you may hinder the effectiveness of TRT.
Procedure
The counseling portion of TRT is typically a one-on-one session between you and your counselor. There are support groups for people who experience tinnitus that you may be referred to; however, these are usually outside the scope of TRT counseling.
Sound therapy is essential to TRT. You may be given a sound generator that is placed in the ear canal for this portion of your therapy. Following the directions for wearing the sound generator and wearing it as often as recommended can help improve your chances of success with TRT.2
If you currently wear hearing aids or are a candidate for hearing aids, your provider may recommend looking into a model that has built-in tinnitus sound therapy. This is a feature commonly referred to as tinnitus masking and has become more prevalent in today’s hearing aids.
Possible Side Effects of TRT
TRT carries no specific side effects other than the fact that it may not be as effective for some people.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy Results
Results from TRT vary from person to person. Some people see results around six months, while others may require counseling for longer periods of time. Tinnitus sound therapy typically takes some time to get used to, and if you are considering hearing aids as a solution, the adjustment period can take up to several months.5
If you're struggling with persistent ringing or buzzing in your ears, consider discussing TRT with your healthcare provider. They can evaluate whether this approach might be right for you, and potentially reduce the impact of tinnitus on your daily activities.
Financing Tinnitus Retraining Therapy With the CareCredit Credit Card
The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for hearing care, including regular hearing tests, screenings and more.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a hearing specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue to invest in your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.
In addition to hearing care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, cosmetic, pet care, vision, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?
Author Bio
Steve Marshall, D.N.P., M.S.N., B.S.N, R.N., has over 30 years of nursing experience, with diverse expertise in clinical leadership, ER, oncology, infectious disease and more. Using his clinical knowledge, he has written for top publications, including Everyday Health, the National Council on Aging and Next Avenue. He is dedicated to combining his extensive nursing knowledge with well-crafted storytelling to help those seeking factual medical information.
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