Oto: Tinnitus & Sleep Therapy

This app is fantastic. The thing I found most comforting, beyond it being evidence-informed, was that the people who developed it have lived experience with tinnitus. It really shows in the design of the program.

Great app

I have been using the app for over a week and it’s early days but I feel hope in it’s efficacy. However, I’m still unsure how to progress through the various levels and I feel I’m not absorbing the material (ie it’s not reinforced) before I’m into another topic. I feel the app needs more sigh posts and clearer directions and instructions. Alan

Loving this app. A week in and I’m have hope

They promote their paid tier in the app, which is fine and there are several things that have a lock on them unless you pay. But they have you start a 6 week program and if you click ahead, there’s no lock icon on weeks ahead, making you feel like you can do the program for free and just not upgrade to the live counseling if you don’t want. well, after you do the 1 week intro, the lock suddenly appears on the rest of the course unless you pay $130 for 3 months.. screwed up for an app claiming to want to help. just be upfront and not shady, oto.

When I find myself panicking about my ear ringing, I know I have something to turn to with this app. I’m surprising myself with the progress I’m making and I know I wouldn’t be able to achieve that alone!

I’m giving this app five stars in the event it might help some people. I'm sure the app has some sound enrichment benefits, which are critical. Tinnitus is a weird animal, and all of us are helped differently. This app was not worth it. I found the sessions simplistic, passé, and not nearly as good as other apps out there. E.G. Sam Harris' app 'Waking Up' with much more sophisticated modules dedicated to cognitive behavioral therapy. It's not a tinnitus app but those of us that have had tinnitus know about Tinnitus Retraining Therapy and how important cognitive behavioral therapy is. I use the 'Calmer' app for sound enrichment. I also don’t personally believe anyone working in the Tinnitus app field should exclude a reduced price or scholarship option. This is more expensive than a lot can afford. It can be such an emotionally crippling journey that can create such deep turmoil for so many that any high Paywall I find unacceptable. People whom want to help should find a way to financially manage things so they can help. Not profit off others pain.

Though I've had low-level tinnitus for 20 years, in January 2023 I got a concussion. The ringing in my ears ramped up from a 1 on a scale of 10 to a 7 or 8 most days. After months of anxiety and tinnitus-related agony, and near-constant masking sounds to cover up the metallic buzz in my ears, I started the Oto program in May, at the recommendation of my ENT. I have done the app almost every day since. While the tinnitus hasn't gone away (or even gone down much), what has changed, thanks to Oto, is how much it bothers me. Most days, especially in the past few months, my tinnitus has been much less troubling. When it gets really intense, I now have a wide range of tools from Oto to help deal with it. Some specifics about the Oto team program that I appreciate: The Oto team is incredibly responsive. They promptly answer messages through the app as well as email, and have addressed my many questions thoroughly and kindly. As a person with PTSD, I appreciate the way the app addresses the trauma aspects of tinnitus. One of my favorite sessions is the one entitled "Resilience," which I've interpreted as "if you had the resilience to overcome severe trauma in your past, you can overcome tinnitus, too; in time, with effort." Another thing I like about Oto is their realistic description of expected results, as opposed to overblown promises often seen in other programs; or the "there's nothing you can do" approach of most doctors. Finally, the mix of education, self-guided PT, conscious breathing, and mindfulness exercises (that refreshingly don't require or push any particular belief system) have helped me not only with tinnitus but also other aspects of my life. While I have not reached full habituation yet, I am hopeful. In that pursuit I started 1:1 coaching through Oto. My coach is Gladys and she's been amazing, even helping me prepare for an overseas trip where I will be in less controlled environments re: noise than I'm used to. Both the monthly app and the private coaching have been money well spent.

The sounds offered allow you to pick a masking sound that can provide immediate relief to help especially with sleep. The training and exercises have helped me in just over a week to be able to go most of the day without noticing my Tinnitus. I got Tinnitus as a result of loss of high pitch hearing in my left ear. This app has helped me see tinnitus is not a danger nor threat and is just my brain thinking it is helping. This app works!!

Mr doctor, who also suffers from tinnitus, recommended the Oto app. It provides short daily sessions to learn ways to move focus away from tinnitus and reduce its impact on your life. So I have found it helpful over the past month that I have been using it.