TINNITUS TREATMENT

Tinnitus Definition: Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is the perception of a sound typically described as buzzing or whistling that is heard in one or both ears, without an external source of sound. This perception can go unnoticed, be bothersome, or become extremely bothersome, affecting the quality of life of those who experience it.

Proper treatment can teach you to live with it, recognize it, and manage it through different solutions. For this, we have a specialized protocol for the evaluation and treatment of tinnitus to assist you in this process. 

TINNITUS ASSESSMENT

We will base our assessment on the overall evaluation, as we need to understand different aspects related to your tinnitus to opt for the best treatment.

We will consider both quantitative aspects, i.e., measuring your tinnitus in terms of frequency and intensity, as well as how it affects your daily life. We will take this initial assessment into account and, in subsequent follow-up reviews, monitor its evolution based on the treatment performed.

It is essential, when evaluating your tinnitus, that you first undergo a review with your specialist ENT doctor to have a complete study and, if your doctor deems it necessary, receive the appropriate treatment. 

Tinnitus is closely related to hearing loss, perhaps not yet noticeable in our daily life, but it can be an indicator of the onset of what we would call, for example, presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) or cases of people who are regularly exposed to high-intensity sounds, resulting in acoustic trauma and hearing loss.

Furthermore, tinnitus or ringing in the ears can have other causes unrelated to hearing. If we detect that this is your case, we will guide you to the appropriate professionals for treatment.

During the assessment, we will review your hearing, both in terms of conversational frequencies and high frequencies. We have audiometric equipment that allows us to assess the frequency spectrum of our hearing up to 20kHz, where we can identify a decrease in hearing or even locate your tinnitus. 

It is quite common to perceive tinnitus in one or both ears, or even centrally, as if it were perceived in our head as a whole. All this information, as well as understanding how they affect you in different situations, how you feel… will help us better understand your case for treatment.

Hypersensitivity, also known as hyperacusis (excessive sensitivity or discomfort to noises not defined as high-intensity), will be evaluated and taken into account throughout the process if necessary.

In summary, tinnitus evaluation is based on:

1. Personal Interview: In this interview, we will conduct a comprehensive case history to understand your difficulties with tinnitus and your needs. Knowing its characteristics, the discomfort it causes you, and in what situations it is vital to support you in this process and subsequently monitor your progress with you through questionnaires.
2. Audiological Tests: 
   • Aimed at:
     • Evaluating your tinnitus: 
       • Tinnitus Pitch Matching (detecting frequency and intensity).
       • Complete auditory review.
       • High-frequency audiometry.
       • Assessment of the impact on your quality of life.
3. Treatment:
   • The treatment will be oriented based on the results obtained, both regarding tinnitus and the presence or absence of hearing loss and hyperacusis. 
   • The main goal of therapy is to coexist with your tinnitus and minimize its interference with your daily life. Currently, there is no cure for it, but we can offer solutions to help you live with it comfortably. 
   • You will have access to specialized professionals who are available to support you throughout this process, in which you will be an active participant in the treatment.