Why You Should See an Audiologist for Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition that affects people of all ages. You know you’ve got it if you’re plagued by the constant presence of a buzzing, humming, clicking or ringing sound. It might not seem like much of an issue, but it can dramatically bring down the quality of your life. Tinnitus can play on your mental health and wellbeing as you almost become consumed by it.

So, if you have tinnitus, what should you do about it? Well, the first step is seeing an audiologist. They’re going to be able to help you out and here’s why you need to see an audiologist for this condition:

Evaluation and diagnosis

The thing with tinnitus is that it can be both temporary and permanent. Temporary tinnitus typically occurs when you’ve been exposed to loud noises. When you listen to music at loud volumes, it’s common to have a persistent ringing for a few days. The same goes for anyone that’s been around a loud bang – you can get temporary tinnitus.

With permanent tinnitus, you’re looking at a condition that’s caused by permanent damage to the sensory hair cells in your cochlear. Therefore, you will have to get proper treatment for it. By seeing an audiologist, they will give an appropriate diagnosis for your issue, which helps you understand the next course of action.

Recommended treatment methods

Of course, by diagnosing your problem, an audiologist can them give you the proper treatment for it. This will vary depending on the type of tinnitus you have. If they find it’s temporary or not too severe, then they might recommend the use of sound machines. These machines play noises to help you relax and move the focus away from the ringing in your ears. They’re primarily used before going to sleep, so you’re not up all night with tinnitus plaguing you.

But, if it’s a permanent issue, then they’re likely to recommend either hearing aids or TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy). Hearing aids will help mask the sound of tinnitus, while TRT trains your brain to ignore it by using hearing devices that emit white noise. Regardless, you need to see an audiologist to gain access to all of these treatment options.

A full ear inspection

Finally, an audiologist can also give you a complete inspection of the ear. This includes checking to see if any sensory hairs are permanently damaged and also providing a hearing examination. Here, you’ll figure out if your tinnitus is a symptom of something worse, like hearing loss. Many people with bad hearing suffer from tinnitus, so your audiologist can check your hearing health and then help afterward. Again, this could mean giving you hearing aids, which help rid the tinnitus by making you hear better and blocking out the ringing.

The worst thing you can do is avoid seeing an audiologist for tinnitus. They hold the key to this condition and their work allows them to inspect your ears and adequately diagnose you. From here, they offer different treatment methods to bring some sanity back into your life! If you’re sick of the annoying ringing in your ears, then book an appointment with an audiologist today.