Tinnitus, often called “ringing in the ears”, is a common auditory condition that affects about 50 million Americans. While this may be a mild problem for some, it can be a severe, disabling problem for others. Tinnitus can cause feelings of depression, anger, anxiety and hopelessness. It can interfere with sleep, work or social situations. For some, tinnitus is viewed as an internal “intruder” for which there is no escape.
Currently, there is no cure for tinnitus; however, there are treatment options that can provide relief. Practitioners who specialize in tinnitus treatment can help you reduce the perception of tinnitus and teach you to how manage the negative effects that it can have on your life.
The first step…
Because everyone is different and there are so many causes of tinnitus, the first step is a comprehensive hearing test. This will allow us to inspect your ears, measure your hearing, and determine if medical evaluation is necessary.
Following the hearing test and discussion with one of our audiologists, it will be determined if you are in need of a tinnitus evaluation by our TPA certified audiologist.
What is a Tinnitus Evaluation?
The tinnitus evaluation focuses exclusively on your tinnitus. Prior to your appointment, the audiologist will have you complete information regarding your history and how tinnitus is impacting your life. These things will be discussed in depth at your appointment.
The audiologist will measure your tinnitus and provide information about causes, what makes tinnitus so debilitating for some, and most importantly, what can be done to gain control and lessen the burden of your tinnitus.
What happens after the Tinnitus Evaluation?
Based on the results of your tinnitus evaluation, an individualized management plan will be created. Services consist of a series of appointments where the audiologist will provide counseling, implement the use of necessary instrumentation and introduce tools necessary to gain control of your tinnitus.