Tinnitus

If you are experiencing a constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in your ears when there's actually no external sound causing it, you may have Tinnitus. It's often described as a phantom noise that only the person experiencing it can hear. Tinnitus can be temporary or chronic and can vary in intensity from person to person. It's not a disease itself but rather a symptom of an underlying condition, such as hearing loss, exposure to loud noises, or ear injuries. While there's no cure for tinnitus, various treatments and coping strategies can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.

 

Testing for tinnitus typically involves a comprehensive evaluation by an audiologist or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor). Here's how it's usually done:

1. Medical History: The healthcare provider will ask you about your symptoms, medical history, and any factors that might contribute to tinnitus, such as exposure to loud noises, ear infections, or head injuries.

2. Physical Examination: A physical examination of the ears, head, neck, and neurological system may be conducted to check for any underlying conditions that could be causing tinnitus.

3. Audiological Evaluation: This typically includes a series of tests to assess your hearing abilities and the nature of the tinnitus. Tests may include pure-tone audiometry to measure hearing thresholds, speech audiometry to assess speech understanding, and tympanometry to evaluate middle ear function.

4. Tinnitus Matching: During this test, you'll be asked to indicate the pitch and loudness of the tinnitus you're experiencing. This helps quantify the subjective perception of tinnitus.

5.  Referrals: Individuals with tinnitus may be referred to a physician to determine if further medical investigations are warranted, such as imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans. In addition, we can provide information about more intensive tinnitus therapy programs offered at other clinics.

 

By combining information from these tests, we can better understand the nature and severity of your tinnitus and develop an appropriate treatment plan tailored to your needs.

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Our audiologists can provide management options for your tinnitus. Our tech aid experts can also connect you with tinnitus masking devices – especially for nighttime