Holistic Tinnitus Clinic in France - BLISS??

For my first post I thought I would introduce an international flavour. My travels and reading have a flavour of the European this week. I work part time in Denmark and was on the bus there last week when I noticed an advert for accupuncture treatment for tinnitus patients. I think I am right in saying this treatment has not shown any improvement in actual tinnitus awareness but has improved peoples general health and well being so improving the perception of tinnitus. I then read an article about a clinic in France specialising in tinnitus and decided it was time I contributed here so let me tell you about that article and that clinic.

What makes the Imerta Clinic in Marseille unique is that it is run as a true multi- diciplinary clinic and set up and run after a chance meeting of two doctors interested in tinnitus and an Italian businessman who had tinnitus. The business man offered to lend his skills to co-ordinating tinnitus researchers across the continent and set up and runs an organisation called the Tinnitus Research Initiative. The physical location of the clinic was chosen with a private hospital group called Clairval and a team was chosen to bring people specialising in tinnitus together.
That team is extensive and includes: Otoneurology, ENT, cardiology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, osteopathy, stomatology, neuroradiology, radiology, biology, hearing aids and reserach. 20 professionals are involved in this holistic process working in unison. As a health professional fighting for every onward referral I would love to make in the U.K. this whole idea sounds like bliss!
So far since it's establishment in 2007 this clinic has seen more than 3,000 patients. In more than 54 % of cases the tinnitus has improved. They use the same outcome measures Debbie would like to see completed for the e-programme - namely the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Their THI results are impressive showing that in these 54% of cases the THI scores reduced 25-30%.
An initial appointment is coordinated by a specialist in oto-neurological investigations and is tailored to the complexity of the patient. If at the end of the consultation a cause of the tinnitus is not established a wider series of investigations is undertaken as an in patient for a half day and the rest of the team is called upon to contribute but all in the same place at the same time, it may be a little overwhelming when first discussed to have all the team around you but imagine walking away after only 2 visits with a clear diagnosis and treatment schedule!!
So what treatments are offered, again an extensive list suggests the possibility of: medical or surgical treatment of an otological pathology, sound therapy, relaxation techniques, osteopathy for those found to have tempro-mandibular joint disorder, hearing aids, sound therapy, behavioural and cognitive therapy are all part of the treatment arsenal.
Are any of these treatments ground breaking or unknown in the U.K.? No, absolutely not but to be able to access them as required, under the same roof and as part of a holistic approach I say to you again BLISS!!!!

Well I know how fantastic that clinic would be for me as a professional what do you as tinnitus patients think of the idea?