864. "Tinnitus Toolbox Hyperacusis Handbook" by Jan L. Mayes – 4 Stars

Tinnitus Toolbox Hyperacusis Handbook by Jan L. Mayes – 4 Stars

Publisher: Jan L. Mayes

ISBN: 9781775270515

The author clearly states there is no magic cure for tinnitus in this book or anywhere. So, up front I continued on to read about all the ways to live with it and minimize its impact on my life of living with tinnitus for over 25 noticeable years so far. The book did not disappoint from the aspect of comprehensiveness and good advice. I really enjoyed the first half of the book that introduced a lot of personal attempts to overcome tinnitus and the straight and concise facts to live more enjoyable given tinnitus. The author provides an excellent toolbox to fight the lows, introducing most of the therapies available today which the reader could find self-research. Her introductions were very complete and included sound, mental, physical, and distraction techniques to help understand and address the noise we tinnitus suffers have to endure, along with readable scientific definitions, facts, additional research articles available. The second half of the book did become a bit overdone though with possibly everything one can search for on the Internet and a more merely listed rather than discussed.

What did I specifically take from this book’s toolbox? DISTRACTION techniques. I could not find any pure sound techniques that worked so far, but I did learn to associate the sounds I am hearing to a more pleasant event via imaging – I am practicing and can now sometimes turn one of the most annoying sounds, the continuous solid upper pitch into an other sound that sounds like the night insects I enjoyed back on top of the Appalachians. My low and pulsating motor humming sound is also no longer the neighbor warming up his truck, but a gentle wind working its way around barriers. Hey, I’ll take it!

I’d classify this nonfiction books as a reference document, as well as a readable guide to managing tinnitus. One can either play with the Internet and do their won research, or quickly learn most everything about tinnitus by reading the first half of the book. Missing though is an index, which could provide quick access to your pertinent questions. I’d like to see an index in the back to give the reader this advantage. Without an index, but because of the great information, I’ll be rating this 4-star. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Reviewer: Rich