Tinnitus, also known as ringing in the ears, is the perception of noise or sounds in the ears, when no external sounds are actually present. Tinnitus is often referred to as ringing but it may also sound like buzzing, hissing, humming, wind noise, or a combination of these different sounds. It can occur in one or both ears and is extremely common and affects 1 in 5 individuals. Unfortunately, tinnitus in and of itself isn’t a condition but rather, it is a symptom of an underlying condition. Every person is unique when it comes to tinnitus treatment. Get in touch to see how personalized treatment can help you.
There are many causes of tinnitus. Hearing loss is probably the most common cause. Approximately 90% of individuals who suffer from some degree of hearing loss will report symptoms of tinnitus that they perceive as being heard in either one ear, both ears or in the middle of the head. Other common causes of tinnitus include: exposure to loud sounds, side effects to medications, existing or untreated medical condition(s), head or neck trauma/injuries, earwax blockage, general stress, anxiety or fatigue, unexplained circumstances.
Tinnitus is one of those symptoms that varies in the way that it impacts people. While some can easily ignore it, others can be severely debilitated by it. For those who suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus will typically be most prominent at the frequencies of the hearing loss. Interestingly, even though some individuals might perceive the tinnitus as being loud and may complain that it affects their ability to hear, generally, tinnitus tends to be slightly louder than the lowest levels of hearing that we can hear.
At AudioSense, our audiologist holds the Widex Zen Therapy Tinnitus Certification. Our assessments go beyond a standard hearing test to map out the characteristics, intensity, and emotional impact of your tinnitus.
Your evaluation typically starts with a case history questionnaire and a tinnitus-specific questionnaire. These allow us to understand your experience with tinnitus: where, when, and how it affects your daily life, mood, concentration, and sleep.
We then perform tinnitus matching in a soundproof booth. We play several sounds that vary in pitch and intensity, and work with you to recreate the sound you hear. This helps us quantify your tinnitus and guides treatment decisions.
- Depending on your case, we may also include:
- Extended high-frequency testing to detect subtle hearing changes beyond the conventional range
- Loudness Discomfort Levels (LDLs) and Uncomfortable Loudness Levels (UCLs) to identify any sound sensitivity
- Masked bone conduction responses to rule out conditions such as superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD), which can sometimes contribute to tinnitus
This detailed assessment helps us understand not only what you hear, but how your auditory system is processing sound. The results allow us to build an effective treatment plan for you.
There is currently no cure for tinnitus. However, there is a lot we can do to help reduce its impact on your life.
In the case of hearing loss-induced-tinnitus, hearing aids help with both the hearing loss and the tinnitus. When there is no hearing loss, hearing aids are typically not our go-to solution, but they are sometimes warranted. We go over these options with you.
We know from the literature that tinnitus tends to be exacerbated by stress, anxiety and fatigue. Relaxation therapies have been shown to help. The therapy that we offer at AudioSense is based on healing practices from Sattva Yoga which include Pranayama, Kriyas and Layas relaxation and meditation therapies. These therapies are based on whole body healing practices that come from tantric traditions and are based on energy transference, deep breathing and muscle contractions, to help with relaxation of the body and the mind; both of which have been shown to help with tinnitus.
Hyperacusis refer to a condition that is characterized by an increased sensitivity to loud sounds at certain frequencies. Hyperacusis is a condition that can occur gradually or can happen suddenly. We assess hyperacusis by measuring the loudness tolerance of certain sounds in a sound proof booth. Treatment for hyperacusis typically involves some sound/noise habituation therapies. Depending on the degree and type of hyperacusis you experience, the audiologist will typically develop a rehabilitation plan with you, which will often include some in-clinic visits as well as homework.
Misophonia refers to a condition that is characterized by a fear of certain sounds, regardless of the volume of the particular sounds. Individuals who suffer from misophonia will sometimes describe that their bothersome sounds as irritating. These are most often everyday sounds, such as chewing, sniffling, lip smacking, and others. Similarly to hyperacusis, treatment for misophonia will involve some in-clinic visits with the audiologist and some homework, and the audiologist will typically develop a rehabilitation plan with you, which will depend on the particular sensitivities and sound irritations that are identified.
