Organization of tinnitus management in Poland

Spontaneous idiopathic tinnitus is a significant interdisciplinary therapeu tic problem. Based on different programs of tinnitus treatment, we organize d a team of physicians, psychologists and engineers in order to establish t he needs for the first Tinnitus Clinic in Poland. At the same time, togethe r with number of clinical centres, scientific societies and non-governmenta l organizations, we carried out training and an information campaign throug hout the country and initiated the first epidemiological studies/survey abo ut tinnitus in Poland. Over a period of 2 years we have provided care for a lmost 1000 patients, including them in a 18-24-month therapeutic program at the clinic. As a method of choice, Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) based on a neurophysiological model of tinnitus origin is used. We present here epidemiological data on tinnitus and hyperacusis in Poland.