Tinnitus
You don’t have to live with ringing in your ears.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus, commonly known as “ringing in the ears,” affects millions of Americans each year. Tinnitus is when you hear a ringing, buzzing, hissing, roaring, or humming sound in your head when no other noise is present. Tinnitus can manifest as an acute symptom lasting from just a few minutes or a chronic or recurring symptom lasting weeks or months.
Tinnitus can be a symptom of a wide range of health conditions and can occasionally point to a more serious problem that needs professional medical attention. This is why identifying the cause of your tinnitus is important.
During your tinnitus evaluation, our audiologists will perform the following to discover the cause of your tinnitus:
- An in-depth review of your medical history
- A complete physical examination of your auditory system
- A pure tone and ultra-high frequency audiometry test
- Speech reception and word recognition tests
- An otoacoustic emissions test
If your tinnitus is “moderately to significantly annoying,” you should visit us for an evaluation. Our team of audiologists is equipped with many tools and strategies to help you with your tinnitus, so you can experience relief.
Tinnitus Evaluation and Management
When you come in for your tinnitus evaluation, there are several goals we hope to accomplish:
- Identify the underlying cause of your tinnitus symptoms
- Determine if your tinnitus is subjective or objective
- Evaluate how your tinnitus is affecting your speech reception
- Assess whether you’re experiencing hyperacusis (sound sensitivity)
- Pinpoint the frequency and loudness of the sound you’re hearing
One of the goals of the evaluation is to rule out what is not causing your tinnitus. Some common causes include hearing loss, ear bone changes, inner ear disorders, or blood pressure changes due to an underlying health condition or certain medications. Once we have identified the cause of your tinnitus, we may be able to treat the condition or help you through the management of your tinnitus.
Although there is no universal cure for tinnitus, there are some treatments that make it less of a distraction. Some management options that may help you include:
- Acoustic Therapy – sounds are used to mask the tinnitus. This can be used in the form of hearing aids or sound machines.
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy – a portable sound generator that produces soft partnered tones will be used to help desensitize the brain to the sounds of tinnitus.
- Tinnitus Counseling or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – counseling will teach you how to manage your tinnitus symptoms by reducing stress and anxiety that are often associated with tinnitus.
Our audiologists are here to help you experience relief from your tinnitus. Contact us today to learn more about our tinnitus management options and which one will best help you.
Schedule Appointment
If you are an existing patient, or would like to book a special appointment type, please call us to schedule.
Our Locations
4075 Mariner Blvd
Spring Hill, FL 34609
Mon-Thur: 7:00AM – 5:30PM
309 Orange St.
Lady Lake, FL 32159
Mon-Thur: 7:00AM – 5:30PM
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Our Office
11515 W Emerald Oaks Dr
Crystal River, FL 34428
Mon-Thur: 7:00AM – 5:30PM
11325 Little Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654
Mon-Thur: 7:00AM – 5:30PM