Hearing a ringing or buzzing can be frustrating, especially when you cannot figure out where it is coming from. This is the experience that nearly 50 million people in Tucson and throughout the country are having.
Once you have come to terms with the fact that your fridge is not actually making all sorts of noises and something else may be going on, it is time to speak with your Tucson tinnitus expert.
Visit Your Audiologist
When you arrive at your Tucson audiologist’s office, they will have you complete a packet of forms, including a medical history and medication list. And like any other medical visit, you will participate in a physical exam. The good news is that your doctor will just be looking at your ears so unlike your last physical, you get to keep your pants on.
Then comes the tinnitus evaluation. Since tinnitus is actually a symptom of a wide range of health conditions and not a condition itself, there are a number of potential causes. Some of these causes may be serious medical issues, so it is extremely important to see your Tucson tinnitus specialist, instead of just hoping your issues go away.
Your Tucson audiologist will do what they can to identify the cause of your symptoms. When evaluating any tinnitus patient, your Tucson audiologist has several goals:
- Identify the underlying cause of the tinnitus symptoms.
- Determine if the tinnitus is subjective or objective.
- Evaluate how the tinnitus is affecting the patient’s speech reception.
- Assess whether the patient is experiencing hyperacusis (sound sensitivity).
- Pinpoint the frequency and loudness of the sound the patient is hearing.
Tinnitus Evaluation
During your tinnitus evaluation, your Tucson audiologist will administer:
- An in-depth written and verbal interview.
- 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.
- Additional tests, studies and evaluations.
While the goal of a tinnitus evaluation is to determine the cause, it is important to note that this is not always the case. Sometime the cause of tinnitus simply cannot be identified. If that is the case, your Tucson audiologist will create a management plan based on making your symptoms less noticeable instead of treating the underlying cause of the symptoms.
Now is the time to finally do something about your tinnitus. Contact your Tucson audiologist to schedule an appointment today.