Tinnitus Evaluations

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is hearing ringing, buzzing, or other sounds without an external cause. These other sounds may include:  high pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, ticking, clicking, roaring, "crickets," "tree frogs," "locusts." tunes, or beeping.  It has also been described as a "whooshing" sound, like wind or waves. Tinnitus can be intermittent or it can be continuous. In the latter case, this "phantom" sound can create great distress in the sufferer.  The sound perceived may range from a quiet background noise to one that can be heard even over loud external sounds. Patients may experience tinnitus in one or both ears and the causes are many. Hearing loss, noise exposure, head injuries and ear pathologies are just a few of the causes of Tinnitus.

 

 

What should be done about Tinnitus?

If you or someone you know suffers from Tinnitus, it is important that you or they have a hearing test to help determine if hearing loss is to blame or rule out anything that could be medically treatable. A hearing test, along with special tinnitus mapping and matching can provide most, if not all, of the answers needed to discuss treatment options.