Tinnitus Treatments and Tinnitus Management

Who is Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment suitable for?

• Clients whose tinnitus is affecting their quality of life
• Clients whose tinnitus is interfering with sleep
• Clients whose TRQ Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire  scores 17 of higher
• Clients who will use the therapy 2-3 hours a day for 6 months and attend the follow up appointments during this time

Needs a compatible Apple or Android mobile phone and suitable ear phones to deliver the therapy.

It may not be suitable for

• Severe to profound hearing losses
• In case of ongoing legal claim surrounding the cause of the tinnitus
• People without 2-4 hours a day for 6 months to be able to listen to the treatment in a non stressful environment.
• People not able to attend at least 4 further appointments with their Audiologist 
• A PDF with all the studies listed is available from our downloads section on the main menu and there a copy of it below.

An APP uses a number of tracks which have been modified based on your earlier testing, conveniently via your own phone and headphones.  

These sounds have to be played for 2-4 hours a day over 6 months..  Only the tracks from the app can be used.  You can still do things like walk, cook, clean ect but avoid stressful situations and loud places where its difficult to hear during this period each day.  

The Audiologist will use the information from the comprehensive hearing test battery to set the App to the correct settings for you, as well as monitor your usage through an online dashboard.  

Phase 1 of the therapy is about reducing the distress and attention to the tinnitus

and slowly begin the process of desensitising the brain to the noise.  

Part 2 of the Neuromonics Tinnitus management program will have your audiologist adjust the settings to the treatment phase.  There isn't as much masking noise in this setting.  It is designed to further desensitise your brain, so even when you do notice the tinnitus, the volume is lower, and the brain isn't producing a negative emotional response to the sound like anxiety or depression.

Across 10 clinical studies with over 1000 thousand participants, Neuromonics has an average success rate of 83%.   These studies are published in peer review journals such as the prestigious Hear and Hearing Journal.  In addition to this, the American Military and our Department of Veterans Affairs both assist with funding for Veterans and have found satisfaction rates to be high enough to continue to do so. 

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The cost for supply, therapy set up, phone check-up's, and face to face appointments at 3 and 6 months is $4800.   This treatment protocol can only be obtained via a Audiologist who will assist you across the 6 months treatment program. 

A Tinnitus Assessment is required  prior and this appointment can be bulk billed with GP referral on our referral pad.  

  The app can be configured remotely for you if you are a distance away but the 3 and 6 month appointments must be in the office.  A comprehensive hearing test prior to the fitting is required to see if referral/treatment is required for any physical causes of the tinnitus.  

This initial comprehensive hearing assessment can be bulk billed with GP referral  on our paperwork.  The GP referral pad is available on this website under the downloads section. 

A TRIAL OF NEUROMONICS IS NOT POSSIBLE as it is a 6 month program .   Unlike our hearing aid policy and the 30 day satisfaction guaranty. 

We offer financing options to help give financial options for treatments, hearing aids, and other hearing solutions. 

We try and bulk bill most of our services  to increase affordability.  In some instances NDIS or Workcover QLD may assist if relevant.  Some private health funds may also pay towards hearing and treatment devices and it is best to to speak to them directly.

 Finally Veteran's who hold a gold card or a white card which states tinnitus and/or hearing loss, (as an approved condition), may be eligible for funding by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  To access this a letter from an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist is required, and then we will be happy to help you by submitting the request to DVA for you

Who are hearing aids suitable for when using them to manage and reduce the tinnitus 

• Untreated hearing loss is a major trigger tinnitus and anything more than a mild hearing loss may have to start with Hearing Aids
• Clients with normal hearing that struggle in noise and have annoying tinnitus
• For some clients the microphone/volume of the hearing aid is left off and just a masking stimulus such as which noise or the Zen Program by Widex Hearing used with no additional volume.
• Clients with Sound tolerance issues and Mysophobia
• Clients who will wear the devices everyday
• Eligible Veterans and Pensioners may be entitled to Government Subsidy towards the devices meaning that some choices are fully funded by the Hearing Services Program. 

Hearing aids may not be suitable for people that

• People who would need to wear them to sleep.  A small IIC could be used but likely going to get comfort issues eventually
• People that work in very loud environments that have to wear hearing protection all day
• Custom moulded hearing aids if prone to middle ear infections
• Only have a small loss and where there may be other more budget friendly options
• Poor memory or dexterity

How Hearing Aids assist in tinnitus Management

• Straining to hear makes Tinnitus worse.  Hearing Aids improve ease of listening
• The improved sound has a masking effect on the tinnitus - it is less noticeable with other sounds present
• Most hearing aids have masking options such as white noise which can help with management in quiet situations
• Most hearing aids are blue tooth compatible - so you can stream your favourite relaxation sounds into the hearing aids 
• Some brands have patented Tinnitus treatment stimuli like the Widex Zen Program  and Signia Hearing using Notch Therapy