Tinnitus treatment
Tinnitus is an abnormal perception of a sound which is reported by patients that is unrelated to an external source of stimulation. Tinnitus is a very common disorder. It may be intermittent, constant or fluctuant, mild or severe, and may vary from a low roaring sensation to a high pitched type of sound. It may or may not be associated with a hearing loss. It is also classified further into subjective tinnitus (a noise perceived by the patient alone) or objective (a noise perceived by the patient as well as by another listener). Subjective tinnitus is common; however, objective tinnitus is relatively uncommon. The location of tinnitus may be in the ear(s) and/or in the head.
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The actual causes of tinnitus can vary greatly. The cause of tinnitus may also be singular or multiple. A complete tinnitus evaluation is necessary to determine the type and degree of tinnitus you suffer from.
Measurement of Tinnitus
A tinnitus evaluation is comprised of multiple parts. Typically it begins with a complete audiological examination, which includes a hearing test. Also, to evaluate the symptoms of the tinnitus itself you will undergo tests for pitch-matching, loudness-matching, loudness sensitivity, and also a test to determine the maskability and inhibition of the tinnitus.
Treatment of Tinnitus
Depending on the determined cause of your tinnitus, Dr. Wikoff will make a recommendtation for the best possible treatement plan. Very often we find that those who suffer from tinnitus also have a hearing loss. This is why the hearing test is part of the tinnitus evaulation. When the ear stops hearing certain frequencies because of a hearing loss, the brain will often times try to compensate by causing you to hear those frequencies when they are not actually present. This in many cases is the ringing that you hear! That means that treating a hearing loss will most commonly ameliorate the symptoms of tinnitus after the mind has had time to acclimate to hearing correctly again.
In some cases however the tinnitus is not related to a hearing loss. In these cases there are other options that Dr. Wikoff will discuss with you. One possibility would be small device called a masker. It can be worn alone in the ear or be built into a hearing aid if there is hearing loss. The masker generates a noise which masks or covers the specific frequency and tone of ringing experienced by the patient. This methodology is successful for many patients who don't find relief from hearing aids alone.
Biofeedback training is another effective method for curing tinnitus in some patients. It consists of exercises in which the patient learns to control the various parts of the body and relax the muscles. When a patient is able to accomplish this type of relaxation, tinnitus generally subsides. Most patients have expressed that the biofeedback offered some to complete relief from the symptoms of tinnitus.
Other lifestyle measures to control tinnitus can help as well. For instance, making every attempt to avoid anxiety, as this will typically increase the symptoms of tinnitus. You should make every attempt to obtain adequate rest and avoid over fatigue. The use of nerve stimulants is generally recommended be avoided. Therefore, excessive amounts of coffee and smoking should be avoided when possible.
Tinnitus is a symptom much like a headache or other pain. Because of this it is subjective and can be difficult to record and quantify. However a properly trained audiologist can zero in on the quality of your tinnitus. The quality of the tinnitus refers to the description by the patient of the tinnitus: It may be a ringing, buzzing, cricket, ocean, etc., type of sound. The quality may be multiple sounds or a singular sound as well.
Why Should You Come See Dr. Wikoff?
Dr. Wikoff has been successfully diagnosing and treating tinnitus for 10 years. She has dedicated her life to the study and care of hearing. She holds an undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Maryland. She also received her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine’s Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences. Dr. Wikoff also holds her CH-TM certification, a tinnitus management certification offered by the American Board of Audiology. Additionally Dr. Wikoff is on the board of directors at the American Tinnitus Association. She has attended multiple courses and workshops specifically on tinnitus, including the International Tinnitus Research Initiative in Valencia, Spain. She is a trained in Neuromonics, received the American Academy of Audiology Scholar Award 2014 - 2015. She is also a member of the Tinnitus Practitioners Association.
If you are in the metro-Atlanta area and are suffering from tinnitus, don't wait any longer to call Peachtree Hearing and see Dr. Wikoff.
Melissa Wikoff Au.D.
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