A UK study has found that a new mindfulness based approach to tinnitus could transform the treatment of the condition.
Published in the journals Ear and Hearing and Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, the research, led by Dr Liz Marks from the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath and Dr Laurence McKenna from University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) helps to significantly reduce the severity of tinnitus compared to relaxation-based treatments, an approach recommended by many tinnitus clinics, the University of Bath announced on its website.
Understanding tinnitus
Tinnitus, described as a sensation or awareness of sound that is not caused by an external sound source. Tinnitus is said to be associated with complaints of emotional stress, insomnia, auditory perceptual problems, and concentration problems.
As yet there is no treatment to stop the tinnitus noise but this research, funded by the British Tinnitus Association (BTA), shows that treatment can make it less severe, intrusive, and bothersome.
Marks will explore the report’s findings in more detail at the BTA’s annual conference in Birmingham in September.
She said: “We compared MBCT to relaxation therapy, a traditional treatment for people with chronic tinnitus, to determine if MBCT was a better option than the current recommended practice.
“In total, 75 patients took part in the trial at UCLH’s Royal National Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital receiving either MBCT or relaxation therapy. The study found that both treatments led to a reduction in tinnitus severity, psychological distress, anxiety, and depression for patients. However, the MBCT treatment led to significantly greater reductions in tinnitus severity than the relaxation treatment, and this improvement lasted for longer. In addition, 182 patients who completed MBCT routinely in our clinic showed a similar level of improvement.”
A breakthrough with relaxation therapy
Relaxation therapy provides patients with specific skills to reduce stress arousal levels. In contrast, MBCT, taught by highly-trained clinical psychologists, teaches patients to pay purposeful, present-moment attention to experiences, rather than trying to suppress those experiences. Practicing mindfulness meditation in this way can cultivate a more helpful way of responding to tinnitus. People learn how to “allow” and “accept” tinnitus, rather than having to “fight it” or “push it away.” Mindfulness does not aim to change the nature or sound of the tinnitus, but the therapy can lead to tinnitus becoming less intrusive, to a point where it is no longer a problem for people.
Marks added, “MBCT turns traditional tinnitus treatment on its head—so, rather than trying to avoid or mask the noise, it teaches people to stop the battle with tinnitus.
“The mindfulness approach is radically different from what most tinnitus sufferers have tried before, and it may not be right for everyone. We are confident, however, that the growing research base has demonstrated how it can offer an exciting new treatment to people who may have found that traditional treatment has not been able to help them yet. We hope the results of our research will be one of the first steps to MBCT becoming more widely adopted.”
David Stockdale, chief executive of the BTA, added: “The results of this research are extremely encouraging particularly for people with chronic tinnitus who find that current treatments are not working for them. We really hope that more people will be able to benefit from this approach moving forward.
“Funding this kind of innovative research is a major part of what we do here at the BTA but as a charity, we rely heavily on the donations made to us. We hope more people will support us as we work tirelessly to grow the understanding and knowledge around tinnitus in order to help people with the condition to manage.”
McKenna and Marks are now continuing their research in tinnitus looking at how cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to treat tinnitus-related insomnia.
Original Papers: McKenna L, Marks EM, Hallsworth CA, Schaette R. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic tinnitus: A randomized controlled trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 2017;86(6):351-361.
McKenna L, Marks EM, Vogt F. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for chronic tinnitus: Evaluation of benefits in a large sample of patients attending a tinnitus clinic. Ear and Hearing. 2018;39(2):359-366.
Source: University of Bath, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Ear and Hearing
Hi, during a military aircrew medical in 1996 the doctor asked me how my hearing problem was and of course my answer, excuse the pun, was what hearing problem. Apparently he had noted that my medical records indicated that my hearing had been degrading over the 9 previous years. At some point during that period my tinnitus crept in and has got louder, 24/7 in both ears. I can’t even think when it appeared but I class myself as one of the lucky ones as I have taught my self to ignore it. It is extremely loud when I wake but I just ignore it as I know it won’t be as bad during the reat of the day unless I think about it, most of the time I don’t even notice it until I think about it.
All the audiologists that I have seen over the years have just dismissed anything I have told them about my tinnitus, 3 different hospitals, and have never offered anything for it. The hospital audiology departments do not even have a clue about the armed forces covenant as I was medically discharged from the Royal Navy as my flying job involved radios and air traffic control/aircraft safety, therefore it was deemed to be unfair to me and my colleagues as well as other air users that if I missed a radio call or something it could lead to near miss or even a mid air collision.
My hearing loss is a high tone loss, which I am sure is actually caused by the tinnitus as it is a high tone whistle.
I am fully aware that there is no cure and that some American research with cures has never been proven.
I have only been without my tinnitus on 3 occasions and that is:
1. Over stretching my jaw during a large yawn, it just momentarily disappears but again audiologists just ignored me on this.
2. During a spiritual healing circle one evening I lost it for at least 1 whole hour.
3. During certain spiritual meditations it can just disappear for the duration of the meditation.
Learning to stop the stress of tinnitus will help reduce the levels of its effect, which will then allow you to be able to teach yourself to ignore it 🙂
I don’t know if any of this will be of help to you but please feel free to use it or contact me if I can help you with my experience of tinnitus.
Kind regards
Jamie
Thank you for a most interesting article.After two bad chest infections I am completely deaf in my left ear,tinitus too,and my other ear clunking and slightly deaf.I have been practicing MBCT.for ten or more years.I totally believe in working with the tinitus and not fighting it.It can get you down at first and I am only having my first specialist app.today it’s been nearly 3 months waiting.I will continue as I have been and am greatful my balance is good and no infection.I am still a bit apprehensive,I would love to be in a trial,as I am retired now and have free time.Good Luck with all your research keep it up it is so worthwhile when you get the hang of it.