Yes, an audiologist can evaluate, diagnose (subjectively), and help manage tinnitus, even though they can't directly "see" the phantom sound because it's subjective. They conduct hearing tests (audiograms) to find related hearing loss, identify the tinnitus pitch/intensity, and offer treatments like sound therapy and counseling to reduce its impact.
At NYU Langone, otolaryngologists—ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors—and audiologists use a variety of diagnostic tests to determine the type of tinnitus causing your symptoms and, if possible, the cause.
While there is no cure for tinnitus, there are management and treatment options to reduce the harmful impact tinnitus has on your quality of life. Hearing loss of any degree is the most commonly recognised cause of tinnitus; therefore, it is important that both hearing and tinnitus are assessed by an audiologist.
Some people describe a feeling of dizziness with a ringing in the ears, and feeling a bit "woozy." Severe dizziness, and the fear that you may fall down when you stand up, should be reported to your healthcare provider. Nausea and vomiting may also be associated with tinnitus.
Your doctor may ask you to move your eyes, clench your jaw, or move your neck, arms and legs. If your tinnitus changes or worsens, it may help identify an underlying disorder that needs treatment. Imaging tests. Depending on the suspected cause of your tinnitus, you may need imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans.
A way to think about this is that while tinnitus may seem to occur in your ear, the phantom sounds are instead generated by your brain, in an area called the auditory cortex. Other evidence shows that abnormal interactions between the auditory cortex and other neural circuits may play a role in tinnitus.
The 60/60 rule for hearing is a guideline to prevent noise-induced hearing loss: listen to personal audio devices at no more than 60% of the maximum volume for no longer than 60 minutes at a time, then take a break. This helps protect your ears from damage by keeping sound levels moderate and allowing for rest, especially important with headphone/earbud use.
Most of the time, it's temporary. But when the ringing in your ears continues day after day, week after week, it can become unbearable. Whether you have hearing-related tinnitus or there's another factor at play, it's important to see a healthcare provider — especially if symptoms last longer than a week or two.
These blood flow changes can cause tinnitus or make tinnitus more noticeable. Other chronic conditions. Conditions including diabetes, thyroid problems, migraines, anemia, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have all been associated with tinnitus.
Attacks of dizziness may come on suddenly or after a short period of tinnitus or muffled hearing. Some people have single attacks of dizziness separated by long periods of time.
While there's no single cure for tinnitus, audiologists can offer several approaches to reduce its impact. Sound therapy, hearing aids with masking features and personalized counseling are some of the options that may provide relief.
Treatments for tinnitus
If the cause of your tinnitus is unknown or cannot be treated, your GP or specialist may refer you for a type of talking therapy. This could be: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – to change the way you think about your tinnitus and reduce anxiety.
Audiologists, ENTs, and PCPs all play a valuable role in managing tinnitus. Specifically, ENTs diagnose, assess, and treat underlying medical issues related to the condition. This can be something as straightforward as an ear infection, such as otitis media, for example, which can be treated with medication.
If nonpulsatile tinnitus is suspected, and only in one ear, MRI of the head and ear canals with and without IV contrast is usually appropriate.
Audiologists have specialized training in assessing and treating the auditory and balance systems located in the ear. The ear can be described in three parts: the outer, middle, and inner ear.
A 2016 study sample consisting of tinnitus patients with bilateral age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) showed that the average loudness of tinnitus was 17.9 dB HL – about as loud as a whisper.
The following health conditions are commonly associated with tinnitus:
Somatosounds are noises that originate within your body, usually from bodily functions. They are NOT tinnitus. Somatosounds can be traced back to a specific origin within the body.
Tinnitus, which often results from an insult to the peripheral auditory system, is associated with changes in structure and function of many brain regions. These include multiple levels of the auditory system as well as regions of the limbic system associated with memory and emotions.
In some cases, people with tinnitus may need to turn down the volume or even avoid watching TV altogether to avoid exacerbating their symptoms. It's important to note that while tinnitus can be a chronic condition, it does not always go away.
Tinnitus is a physical condition, experienced as noises or ringing in a person's ears or head, when no such external physical noise is present. Tinnitus is not a disease in itself. It is a symptom of a fault in a person's auditory (hearing) system, which includes the ears and the brain.
CBT gets you started on the path toward habituation, a form of neuroplasticity through which the brain gradually reduces its reaction to tinnitus. Through habituation, tinnitus becomes less important, more in the background, the same way we automatically learn to ignore road sound, a fan, the wind, and so on.
Sounds at or below 70 A-weighted decibels (dBA), even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss.
Adults (18 years or older) with hearing loss may be candidates for cochlear implantation (CI) if they demonstrate the following criteria: a severe (71-90 dB hearing loss [HL]) to profound (greater than 90 dB HL), bilateral sensorineural hearing loss in conversational frequency range (500-4000 Hz);
The NDIS Operational Guidelines indicate that disability access requirements will generally be met where a person's hearing impairments are equal to or greater than 65 decibels, in the better ear.