Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model [Hardcover]

Pawel J. Jastreboff (Author), Jonathan W. P. Hazell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0521592569 | ISBN-13: 978-0521592567

Tinnitus and oversensitivity to sound are common and hitherto incurable, distressing conditions that affect a substantial number of the population. Pawel Jastreboff's discovery of the mechanisms by which tinnitus and decreased sound tolerance occur has led to a new and effective treatment called Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). Audiologists, ENT specialists, psychologists and counsellors around the world currently practise this technique, with very high success rates. TRT, the treatment developed by the authors from the model, has already proved to be the most effective and most widely practised worldwide. This book presents a definitive description and justification for the Jastreboff neurophysiological model of tinnitus, outlining the essentials of TRT, reviewing the research literature justifying their claims, and providing an expert critique of other therapeutic practices.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a thought-provoking and stimulating book for dipping into, for referring to, for speed-reading and for reading thoroughly from cover to cover. It will be a useful addition to the shelves of professionals who work with people with tinnitus." Val Tait

"Rigorous and Practical" British Society of Audiology

Book Description

This book presents a definitive description and justification for the Jastreboff neurophysiological model of tinnitus, outlining the essentials of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (the highly successful treatment arising from it), reviewing the research literature, and providing an expert critique of other current therapeutic practices.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 290 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (November 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521592569
• ISBN-13: 978-0521592567
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #843,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Will TRT work for me?, February 23, 2006

By 

L. M. Jordan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model (Hardcover)

Jastreboff's TRT:INM is essential reading for those of us who suffer from tinnitus and is approachable by even the layman.

Jastreboff explores what factors may be in play in tinnitus emergence and how personality and conditioning may contribute. His neurophysiological model of tinnitus explains the oto-neurological reorganization that takes place to intensify and make persistent the tinnitus percept. The plasticity of the related mechanisms offers encouragement for relief and recovery. His many documented successes with TRT are indisputable. However, there still are failures. Inadequate "TRT counselling"? In addition to counselling sessions on the neurophysiological model other therapies may be necessary -- psychotherapy, cognative behavioral therapy, distraction attention techniques, imaginary exercises and modifications of maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.

Will TRT work for me?

[Note: I finished this text and followed it immediately with Kevin Hogan's "Tinnitus: Turning the Volume Down." It is an interesting contrast. Jastreboff frowns on the use of drugs and many other "modalities", banking almost exclusively on his neurophysiological model of tinnitus and conforming therapies. Hogan, who suffered and received significant relief takes a more pragmatic approach: If it works, he won't dismiss it. He does address the pros and cons of many approaches. And he is not against an approach, which uses many treatments concurrantly. He plays the percentages, hoping to increase the probability of success (1 - p1%*p2%*...*pn%). Hogan himself used a variety of meds and hypnosis to achieve habituation of reaction and perception of his own severe tinnitus.]

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best book I read on tinnitus, June 29, 2006

By 

Chen Sun "WebAndNet.com" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model (Hardcover)

I read about 5 books on tinnitus and hyperacusis. This is, by far, the best. The only thing needed to treat tinnitus is to understand some methods, which are explained, and to purchase a $50 nature sound machine. My only complaint is that the author didn't provide a list of nature sound machines (academians don't endorse, I guess), and these are somewhat difficult to shop for.

Fast reading--took me about 4 hours. Easiest way to figure out how to treat tinnitus and hyperacusis. Not fully "cured", but treatment teached me how to live accommodate both tinnitus and hyperacusis.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice model but . . .?, March 8, 2011

By 

Martin G. Hudson "Martin" (Olympia, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy: Implementing the Neurophysiological Model (Paperback)

The good is that this book provides solid information on how the brain perceives and deals with sound. The bad is that Jastrebff & Hazell ignore research that counters their preconceived notions regarding impacts of severe tinnitus on the patient, thus, their TRT model is based on questionable research and results.

I've had low volume tinnitus since age fifteen resulting from a firecracker going off near my right ear but it was easily tuned out. Then during July,2007 I started experiencing very loud tinnitus that persists today, ranging in volume from low to very high, loud enough at times to be easily heard over a vacuum cleaner. I can drift off to sleep with very low tinnitus, wake up an hour later with it blasting away, or the other way around. Also, it moves from perception in the right ear, then to the left, sometimes in both over a three to five day cycle. For solutions I turned to books such as this and one by Kevin Hogan. I did find useful knowledge in both books and approaches but no answer or solution.

This book provide valuable information but assumptions are made only using data that support the researchers assumptions, while ignoring data that counters their assumptions. An example is the statement on page 72: "Tinnitus loudness and pitch bear no relationship to the severity of tinnitus, to its diagnosis or to the outcome of its treatment." That is akin to saying that noise volume plays no role in the level of discomfort by the one experiencing it, i.e. whether one stands ten yards from a screaming jet engine or three hundred yards makes no difference in discomfort levels to those hearing the jet engine. Their statement defies logic and common sense. I know when my tinnitus is low, I easily tune it out, when it is blasting away then I cannot. Also, mine varies in pitch and the higher the pitch, the higher the discomfort level. Volume and pitch do play a role and, as is often the case, doctors are not or not wanting to listen their patients.

Other weakness include their conclusion that all tinnitus originates in the cochlea. Solid research exists that counters that assumption. Severing the nerve that leads from the cochlea to the brain has proven otherwise, sometimes tinnitus was unchanged after the severing. Research indicates that the brain itself creates noise that is sometimes perceived as tinnitus if it is within the frequency that the audio cortex can interpret the noise as sound. The authors also repeatedly quote and old 1953 study regarding response of hearing in a sound proof room. Rather than substantiate old research with another simple experiment they use the old data without question. Solid research would require a repeat of such a simple experiment, especially since it was done nearly fifty years in the past.

I have a strong research background and know padded research when I read it. I used similar tactics to prove my term paper and thesis research while in college and to some extent after. I would formulate a hypothesis, write the paper, then use the university library computer system to find data to prove my hypothesis, while purposely ignoring data that could raise doubts or disprove it. This gimmick is commonly used by professors in academia to submit grant proposals for extra income. Academic careers have been made using such questionable tactics Their success is predetermined, thus, income guaranteed. I just learned it quickly as a student and used their tactic to receive both a BS and MS degree in four years.

Buy the book if you're wanting knowledge, if looking for solutions, don't be surprised if you do not find any. TRT is a very costly treatment so move forward with caution and read Dr. Kevin Hogan's book "Turning the Volume Down." This individual is a Psychologist who actually lived with severe tinnitus. I do not lay any claims to the validity of his methods, but he does present interesting alternatives. I have since learned mine is produced within the brain and that the only real solution may be time.