I agree with everything
@IYIiKe and
@Nick47 have said. CBT is likely a somewhat effective tool for those who initially experience mild, single tone tinnitus. This type of tinnitus can often be masked by everyday sounds and is primarily noticeable in quiet rooms. I completely understand how this can be a massive shock for someone just starting to experience it, leading to tinnitus distress. CBT seems helpful for guiding these individuals toward habituation.
Ironically, I dealt with this form of tinnitus for over a decade without experiencing any distress. I remember thinking, "I probably deserve this after years of loud music," and just went about my life. At night, I would sometimes think, "Wow, that is loud," but I would still fall asleep without much trouble.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago: I developed TTTS, reactive tinnitus, shock like sensations (likely due to nerve damage), and mild hyperacusis after a poorly fitted hearing protection episode during an NHS MRI. Now, I have a severe quality of life issue primarily driven by the physical symptoms I endure. No amount of CBT can address this.
I have mentioned before that I am under the care of a local NHS audiologist who provides counseling. However, it focuses mainly on the idea that anger fuels the emotional impact of tinnitus. It feels like the wild west, as every provider seems to create their own version of CBT, counseling, or relaxation techniques. For example, the audiologist was shocked that one of the world's leading middle ear doctors had prescribed medication for tinnitus, arguing that NICE guidelines do not recommend it.
The severity of some people's conditions and their impact on quality of life are often misunderstood. Everyone is treated as though their condition is the same, which simply is not accurate. To use a somewhat imperfect analogy: would you treat someone with a small, nonmalignant skin cancer the same way you would treat someone with an invasive tumor?
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