Questions to Ask Your Audiologist About Tinnitus

If you have developed the symptoms of tinnitus, then it is very wise to go and see an audiologist. However, before you go, you should try to generate a list of questions to ask your audiologist before you arrive at his or her office. This way, you can make sure that you obtain all of the important information that you need. Here are some of the top questions to ask your audiologist before you go in for your appointment.

1. How did I get tinnitus?

It is crucial to know exactly how you got tinnitus. This is because the cause of your tinnitus will dramatically impact how it is treated. For example, if your tinnitus is being caused by excessive earwax, the treatment will be very different than if your tinnitus is caused by a TMJ problem. So, this should be one of the very first questions that you ask your audiologist.

2. Are my symptoms normal?

There are a variety of symptoms that you could be experiencing if you have tinnitus. For example, you may hear hissing, ringing or roaring noises in your ear. However, even if you are experiencing these normal symptoms of tinnitus, you may also be experiencing symptoms that are not normal. For example, you could have a bit of blood coming from your ears. So, you should always tell your audiologist the symptoms that you are having, and ask him or her if your particular symptoms are normal.

3. What are my treatment options?

This is definitely one of the most important questions you can ask your audiologist. As mentioned above, the specific treatment that is chosen for your particular case of tinnitus will depend heavily on the nature of your case. There are many different treatments available for tinnitus. Everything from antibiotics to surgery may help. However, the particular treatment will only help it if gets at the cause of your symptoms. One of the most common relief options for tinnitus is hearing aids. Regardless if you have hearing loss or not, hearing aids can be equipped with tinnitus-masking features to reduce the noise you are hearing internally and provide you relief.

Talk more with your audiologist about your symptoms and what treatment would be most effective for your particular needs.