Tinnitus testing, assessment & management
Tinnitus is experienced as a sound inside the head or ears, that does not come from an outside source. It can be perceived as a ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, cicadas, humming, or other sound.
Tinnitus management
Understanding Tinnitus
Tinnitus is usually caused by a change in the hearing system, but can also occur after head or neck injuries, ear infections, stress, raised blood pressure, a side effect of some medications, and other causes.
The sound of tinnitus is usually generated by the brain itself, with the hearing pathways in the central nervous system generating their own internal noise as the brain modifies its neural activity as it tries to compensate for hearing loss (or in response to injury or stress). This sound cannot cause any direct harm but can trigger emotion and attention systems.
When should I be concerned?
For the majority of people, the sound of tinnitus is non-bothersome, however for approximately 1 in 200 people tinnitus becomes annoying and unpleasant and can affect daily activities and quality of life. In these cases, it is worth consulting your Audiologist for assessment and treatment. It's also important to see your Audiologist or doctor if you experience tinnitus with sudden onset, in one ear only or with other accompanying hearing or balance symptoms.
Who can help?
Although there is no simple cure for tinnitus, the brain can be trained to reduce, ignore, or adapt to it over time.
A full hearing test with your audiologist at Wolfe Hearing is recommended; to check for possible causes and contributions to tinnitus.
We may refer you to your GP or ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist) if medical assessment or intervention is required.
The hearing test allows us to recommend suitable options for sound therapy, which may include sound therapy devices or hearing aids (including ear-level masking devices).
Book your appointment online
Tinnitus Relief
The first step to understanding your tinnitus is an assessment with your Audiologist. When tinnitus is persistent and bothersome and other medical interventions have been ruled out, we recommend our partner: www.tinnitusrelief.co.nz.
Online sessions are available with a qualified tinnitus specialist providing sypport, therapy and a personalised tinnitus treatment and management plan.
