How much does tinnitus retraining therapy cost?
How much does tinnitus retraining therapy cost?
$100 – $350 cost for initial evaluation & hearing tests
$2,500 – $7,000 average cost for tinnitus retraining therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy cost
Tinnitus retraining therapy costs $2,500 to $7,000 on average, depending on your location, the provider's expertise, the severity of your condition, and whether you need additional treatments or devices. An initial evaluation and hearing tests cost $100 to $350 to help your provider develop a personalized treatment plan.
| Factor | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Initial evaluation & hearing tests | $100 – $350 |
| Tinnitus retraining therapy | $2,500 – $7,000 |
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears when no external sound is present. It's not a disease itself but rather a symptom of an underlying condition. The phantom sounds can vary widely in pitch and volume, appearing as:
Ringing
Buzzing
Hissing
Clicking
Whooshing
Humming
For some people, tinnitus is a minor annoyance that comes and goes. For others, it can be a constant, debilitating condition that significantly impacts quality of life, affecting concentration, sleep, and mental health.
For about 10% to 15% of people, tinnitus becomes a chronic, significant problem that interferes with daily activities. This is where specialized treatments like tinnitus retraining therapy become valuable.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus can develop from various causes, including:
Hearing loss: Age-related and noise-induced hearing loss are common culprits.
Ear damage: Injury to the inner, middle, or outer ear can trigger tinnitus.
Exposure to loud noise: Prolonged exposure to loud sounds or a single traumatic noise event can damage the auditory system.
Ear infections or diseases: Conditions like Ménière's disease or otosclerosis can cause tinnitus.
Medications: Certain antibiotics, cancer medications, diuretics, and high doses of aspirin may cause or worsen tinnitus.
Blood vessel disorders: Conditions affecting blood flow, such as hypertension or atherosclerosis, can lead to pulsatile tinnitus.
Stress and anxiety: Emotional stress can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms.
TMJ disorders: Problems with the temporomandibular joint can manifest as tinnitus.
Head or neck injuries: Trauma to these areas can affect hearing and cause tinnitus.
What is tinnitus retraining therapy?
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a specialized treatment approach that combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a counselor and sound therapy with an audiologist. This dual approach addresses both the perception of tinnitus sounds and the negative reactions and emotions associated with them.
The primary goal of TRT is not to eliminate the tinnitus itself but to reduce your awareness of it and minimize its impact on your life. By retraining how your brain processes and responds to tinnitus signals, Tinnitus retraining therapy helps you habituate to the sounds so they no longer cause distress or disruption.
How does tinnitus retraining therapy work?
Tinnitus retraining therapy works by incorporating counseling sessions and sound therapy sessions to target the neural pathways involved in both hearing and processing tinnitus sounds. Over time, this combined approach helps your brain see tinnitus as a harmless background noise instead of something alarming, making it easier to get used to the sound and control how you respond to it.
Here's how the two components work together:
Counseling
The counseling sessions aim to demystify tinnitus and reduce the fear and anxiety surrounding it, which often exacerbate symptoms.
This aspect of TRT involves working with a trained therapist who helps you identify negative associations and reactions to tinnitus, develop strategies to change your perception of and response to tinnitus sounds, and learn relaxation techniques to reduce stress and anxiety related to tinnitus.
Sound therapy
Tinnitus retraining sound therapy involves:
Using external sound sources (like white noise machines or specialized ear devices) to reduce the contrast between tinnitus sounds and background sound
Providing consistent, neutral background sounds that help reduce the perception of tinnitus
Gradual exposure to carefully selected sounds that help retrain the auditory processing system
Depending on your specific case, sound therapy might also involve:
Wearable sound generators (small devices that fit in the ear and produce soft background noise)
Hearing aids (if hearing loss is present)
Tabletop sound machines
Smartphone apps designed for tinnitus management
Music or environmental sounds
FAQs about tinnitus retraining therapy
Does tinnitus retraining therapy work?
Research indicates tinnitus retraining therapy is effective for many patients, with success rates of 70% to 80% for significant reduction in tinnitus distress and improved quality of life. However, results vary based on the underlying cause of the tinnitus and whether the individual completes the full treatment protocol.
It's important to note TRT doesn't promise to eliminate tinnitus completely. Instead, it aims to reduce tinnitus-related distress to the point where the sounds no longer significantly impact daily life.
How long does tinnitus retraining therapy take?
A complete tinnitus retraining protocol takes 12 to 24 months. This timeline reflects the neuroplastic nature of the treatment—it takes time for the brain to form new neural pathways and habituate to tinnitus.
While significant improvements can often be observed within the first few months, complete habituation typically requires the full treatment period. Some patients continue with maintenance sessions or sound therapy beyond the initial treatment phase.
Can tinnitus be cured?
Currently, there is no definitive cure for all forms of tinnitus. However, that doesn't mean you have to live with debilitating symptoms:
If your tinnitus is caused by an underlying health condition, treating that condition may eliminate or reduce the noise.
For tinnitus related to medication, changing prescriptions may help.
When tinnitus cannot be eliminated, various management strategies and treatments can significantly reduce its impact on your quality of life.
Tinnitus treatments typically focus on either masking the sound, reducing its perceived intensity, or helping you habituate to it—essentially training your brain to tune out the phantom sounds.
Does insurance cover tinnitus retraining therapy?
Health insurance typically does not cover tinnitus retraining therapy, which is classified as an experimental therapy. Many plans cover a hearing test if a physician orders it. If your plan covers hearing aids, it may cover the cost of a new device with a built-in tinnitus-masking feature.
Does Medicare cover tinnitus retraining therapy?
Medicare does not cover tinnitus retraining therapy, as hearing-related disorders are not considered life-threatening. Medicare will reimburse a portion of the cost of an annual hearing exam.
Questions to ask a tinnitus therapy provider
When searching for a provider for tinnitus retraining therapy, ask these questions to ensure you find the best therapist near you and understand the treatment process:
How long have you been providing tinnitus retraining therapy?
What is your success rate in treating tinnitus?
What type of diagnostic hearing tests will you perform?
How many sessions will the treatment protocol take?
How soon will I experience positive results?
What is causing my tinnitus?
What can be done to treat the underlying cause?
Will I need to purchase hearing aids or specific sound therapy devices?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.