![](https://wwspt.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Tinnitus-and-Dizziness.jpg)
Tinnitus, which is defined as any perception of noise in the ear, such as ringing, buzzing, roaring or hissing, is a symptom experienced by many of our patients seeking vestibular treatment. It is a widespread problem that can occur with or without dizziness, and according to the American Academy of Audiology, an estimated 40-50 million Americans have experienced an episode of longer than momentary tinnitus, and 2.5 million report feeling debilitated by their condition. A few months ago the staff at WWSPT were able to have an in service with Dr. Linda Wayne Au.D, a Doctor of Audiology and owner of Cadence Hearing Services in Doylestown. We were discussing the topic of tinnitus. Dr. Wayne explained to us that tinnitus is not coming from the ear itself, but is actually being created by the brain. (Tinnitus can also be caused by cervical and TMJ issues and can be changed by altering head and neck position, which is different from the tinnitus discussed in this post).
We learned from Dr. Wayne that most people with tinnitus have hearing loss upon testing, but many people are not aware of their deficit. For this reason, Dr. Wayne recommends that everyone who is experiencing tinnitus undergo a hearing test. Although you hear tinnitus, it is not actually created by the ear itself, but by the brain as a response to damage in the ear. An audiologist works individually with each patient to determine the frequency and other characteristic of the tinnitus, and there are devices called “tinnitus maskers” that people can wear that will emit a sound that effectively competes with the sound in order to conceal it. These can be included within the hearing aids. There are also other treatment strategies that can be elicited depending upon the specific patient and their tinnitus.
We often get questions regarding tinnitus from our vestibular patients because it sometimes occurs concurrently with dizziness. If the tinnitus does not seem to improve following successful vestibular rehabilitation, or if it is severely impacting a patient’s ability to function, we may recommend that the patient see an audiologist to be further evaluated.
For more information, contact us at https://wwspt.com/contact/
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