It is interesting this topic has come up in regards to tinnitus. I am somewhat familiar with these programs, as what was once called "cognitive retraining" originally was focused on dementia and Alzheimer's patients -- and in my work, I deal with older adults.
The concept has been around for a long time, and tested quite a bit at different research facilities. Most neurologists agree that for patients with early onset dementia, or some reduced processing due to aging (and most of us have this reduction as we get older), cognitive retraining can help. But these products were not developed to stimulate the areas of the brain involved in tinnitus -- although who knows, maybe they will help, especially since concentration issues often are a by-product of tinnitus. Cognitive training targets memory, speech and hand-eye motor functioning. I don't think there are any large clinical, independent studies that look at the effect of cognitive retraining on tinnitus The article
@Jill references involves a doctor who, visiting a St. Louis university-based program, mentions he talked to TWO participants who happened to also have T and felt the therapy helped that condition. Interesting, but not much to hang you hat on.
Add to that: The healthcare technology industry really has jumped on the neuroplasticity bandwagon in the past decade, hoping to take advantage of pushing "brain gyms" and brain exercises to the baby boomers, who are scared to death of Alzheimer's. There are a flood of books, programs in private clinics and computer-based software applications.
Posit and Lumosity happen to be the two largest and best known, at least in the US. They market their products very aggressively. Of course they will tell you their programs may work for tinnitus, if you ask. They want to sell you their stuff. A lot of the "science" that they claim backs their products are either general studies on neuroplasticity or studies they did themselves (kind of like Neuromonics).
But: I am not suggesting we not try these programs. In fact, I may try Lumosity myself. If you have the money, go for it. It can't hurt you -- its probably even safer than some supplements. It won't cost you thousands of dollars, like Neuromonics or HBOT. And it just might help.
I just want people to go in with realistic expectations and understand the hype behind it. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing updates from TT people using these programs as far as how their tinnitus responds.
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