Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is one of the most established methods for helping people manage tinnitus. It is built on the idea that tinnitus is not only about what you hear, but also about how your brain and emotional systems react to that sound. For some, tinnitus barely registers; for others, it feels overwhelming. TRT was created to explain this difference and provide a structured path forward.

At the heart of TRT is habituation — the process of training your brain to treat tinnitus as a neutral, unimportant signal. Just as you can tune out the hum of an air conditioner, your system can learn to move tinnitus into the background of awareness. Once the negative emotional link is broken, the distress fades and the sound loses its grip.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) combines two key components:

• Counselling: Personalized sessions that explain how tinnitus works, reduce fear, and teach your brain not to interpret it as a threat.
• Sound Therapy: Low-level background noise, delivered through specialized devices or hearing aids, provides a neutral sound environment that helps your brain stop over-focusing on tinnitus. Unlike masking, which covers tinnitus, this approach allows the brain to reclassify it as insignificant.

When followed consistently, TRT typically takes 12 to 18 months and has shown strong results. Clinical studies and decades of use report that over 80% of patients see a meaningful reduction in awareness and distress, with many finding that tinnitus no longer interferes with daily life.

In essence, TRT does not aim to erase tinnitus — it retrains the brain’s response to it. The sound may remain, but it becomes a background detail rather than a constant burden, opening space for focus, rest, and peace of mind.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) in Kelowna:

At Lakeside Hearing, TRT is offered by audiologists who have completed specialized training in this method:

• Dr. Nichole Sorensen, Au.D., RAUD – Founding Partner, with advanced training in TRT and over 20 years of audiology experience.
• Dr. Claire Beldi, Au.D., RAUD – Partner, who has completed the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy course as part of her advanced clinical doctorate.
• Bailey Sinclair, M.Sc., RAUD – Registered Audiologist, Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate through the International Hearing Society (IHS)
• Shandryn Kozin, M.Sc., RAUD – Registered Audiologist, who has completed the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy course.

This advanced training means our team follows the true TRT protocol — not just masking or coping strategies — but a structured program designed to help your brain rewire its response to tinnitus.