Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound source is present. Tinnitus can take on any number of characteristics and is usually a sound that only you can hear. You can experience tinnitus that varies from soft to loud and from low to high pitch. Individuals describe their tinnitus in a number of ways, including a buzzing, clicking, ringing, white noise, and/or roaring sound. Although these descriptions are typical, there are no specific rules about how tinnitus is perceived. Each person’s experience can be different. Sound sensitivity is reduced tolerance to everyday sounds that are generally tolerated easily by most individuals. This can include sensitivity to louder sounds (hyperacusis) or softer sounds (misophonia, selective sound sensitivity, phonophobia).

According to the American Tinnitus Association (ATA), tinnitus is one of the most common health conditions in the United States, affecting approximately 45 million Americans to some degree. An estimated 20 million have symptoms severe enough that they seek medical attention, and approximately 2 million cannot function “normally” on a day-to-day basis. Hyperacusis occurs in an estimated 7.7 to 15 percent of Americans. The prevalence of misophonia and phonophobia is unknown.

Tinnitus is most often related to a change in auditory function, so the first step in addressing your tinnitus is to undergo a comprehensive hearing evaluation. If you are new to our practice and have not been evaluated previously, these tests will be conducted at your initial appointment. Because tinnitus is so individual, you should work with your audiologist or physician to determine the best management option for you.We offer a variety of treatment methods depending on tinnitus type and severity. At your tinnitus consultation, we will review your history, your hearing evaluation results, and your questionnaire answers and score. We may complete a tinnitus psychoacoustic assessment to measure your tinnitus pitch, loudness, and minimum masking level. We will review our current understanding of tinnitus pathophysiology and make recommendations to address your unique concerns. If you are experiencing ringing please contact us for an evaluation and to explore management options.