Tinnitus, that buzzing whooshing or sometimes musical sound that happens inside our head that no one but us can hear.
All too often as a hearing care professional do I hear or even said myself many times ‘there is nothing you can do about tinnitus you just have to learn to live with it’. This is a very real answer we hear not just from our GP’s but also audiologists…. But why?
So what is Tinnitus? As laid out by the mayo clinic- Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. It can present itself as ringing, whooshing or pulsating sound in your ear.
From the hearing care professional point of view I put the lack of tinnitus treatment and attempts to help tinnitus down to lack of current knowledge and historical attitudes towards tinnitus. Hearing care professionals back in the day would run a mile if someone even spoke the word! You have tinnitus! Oh I must refer you! Something must be wrong you need to see the ENT!
It’s true that tinnitus can be caused by conditions that must be looked at by other health professionals but in the main tinnitus should be examined or even treated by your hearingcare professional. Only after extensive investigation and exploration by your hearing care professional should a recommendation of referral be made to the GP.
If your hearing care audiologist supplies your GP with a full case history and test details regarding your tinnitus you will have a far better chance of receiving the right treatment and being signposted to the right health care professional.
So why are tinnitus assessments so hard to find? Modern hearing care & audiology in the most is either supplied on the high street in well-known brands such as Boots & Specsavers or in our brilliant NHS audiology departments. Although these big companies do a great job in raising awareness and helping hearing loss their biggest challenge for offering in depth bespoke testing is time and resource.
A proper tinnitus assessment is an in depth procedure which involves great care and attention especially to emotional aspects of the tinnitus sufferers life. It requires a lot of questioning and investigating into the impact of the tinnitus and the potential causes that are aggravating it.
Tinnitus assessments and solutions require great skill in coaching the patient and helping them understand why they have tinnitus or what they can do about it. Most hearing care professionals focus just on hearing loss and solutions for that hearing loss.
Although hearing aids if needed will go a long way to helping your tinnitus if you have hearing loss they won’t help you understand your tinnitus fully or what causes your tinnitus or aggravates it. Only a full in-depth tinnitus assessment will achieve these results.
If you suffer from tinnitus seek out a professional who won’t say like I did all those years ago ‘There’s nothing you can do about it, live with it’. Seek out a professional who will say let’s have a go because we may just be able to either get rid of that tinnitus or at the very least help you understand and cope with the tinnitus.
What your hearing test should look like if you have tinnitus:
- In depth discussion into your current medical history and if any existing medical conditions.
- Tinnitus Impact Questionnaire – This will help us understand your subjective perception of your tinnitus and its consequences.
- Tinnitus Functional Index – In depth session into impact of tinnitus on you and its severity.
- Physical Ear Examination – Otoscopy and video otoscopy to determine health of outer ear and ear drum.
- Full hearing Assessment – Establish hearing thresholds.
- Uncomfortable Loudness Test – Establish the maximum perceived loudness levels.
- Tinnitus Pitch Match – Find the note of your tinnitus so we can relate.
- Tinnitus Loudness Match – Find the volume of your tinnitus.
- Tinnitus Masking Levels – Finding the level to mask out the tinnitus.
- Full Explanation of results and suggested treatments.
If you are suffering from tinnitus don’t settle for nothing can be done live with it! Look for a professional who will be able to at least investigate and offer some solutions because they absolutely exist and there is probably one for you!
As someone who has bilateral tinnitus I know that for many people just understanding what tinnitus is and that its not a sign you have a greater health issue can instantly make you feel at peace and make your tinnitus manageable. If you want to chat about your tinnitus just book into to see me at Uddingston Clinic.
Steven Ross MSHAA RHAD
Director
Ross & Jamieson Hearing Consultants
54 Main Street Uddingston
