Tinnitus and Decreased Sound Tolerance

What is tinnitus and decreased sound tolerance?

Tinnitus is a perception of sound in one ear, both ears, or the head without an external source. It is often described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, running water, chirping, music or clicking. Tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. Common causes of tinnitus include loud noise exposure, ear wax, anxiety or depression, medications, hearing loss and trauma to the head and or neck.   Decreased sound tolerance (DST) is a sound sensitivity condition where every-day sounds that do not bother most people become abnormally bothersome.   If you are experiencing tinnitus and or DST, it is important to undergo a full audiological assessment and evaluation of the tinnitus and or DST to determine appropriate treatment options and if a referral to an ENT (Ear, nose, and throat physician) or a Mental Health Professional is warranted.  

Evaluation and management 

During the evaluation, the audiologist will review your medical history and go over a couple of questionnaires to evaluate the impact of tinnitus and DST on your daily life activities. A full audiological assessment (including measurements specific to tinnitus and sound tolerance) is required to ensure a comprehensive understanding of your audiological profile and needs in order to recommend the best management plan. The assessment can take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the patient's age and needs. Depending on the complexity of the case, a second appointment may be required to review the results and recommendations.