How to Prepare for Your Audiologist Appointment

Doctor checking woman's ear; audiologist appointment concept

If you're hearing noises no one else can hear, you may have tinnitus. It's time to get checked by an audiologist.

What's an audiologist?

An audiologist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. They have a minimum of a master's degree in audiology and are trained to diagnose and manage hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and vestibular (balance) disorders.

Audiologists use a variety of tests and measures to evaluate an individual's hearing and balance function, and they may also fit and dispense hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive devices. They often work in a clinical setting, such as a hospital, hearing aid dispensing practice, or speech and hearing clinic, and may also provide hearing conservation services in industry and education.

Prepare for your appointment for best results

Be prepared to answers lots of questions to get the best results from your audiologist appointment.

Some of the signs and symptoms you'll be asked to describe may include:

- What type of noises are you hearing?

- Clicking
- Rushing or humming
- Heartbeat
- Low-pitched ringing
- High-pitched ringing
- Other sounds
- Is it in one ear or both ears?
- Do the sounds come and go or are they continuous?
- How loud are the noises?
- Do you have trouble tolerating other sounds from the world because they appear too loud or painful?
- Are you or have you ever been exposed to continual loud noises?

Your medical history is important too, and may include questions about health conditions such as hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart disease or blood vessel disease.

Other general questions:
- Medication history. Some medications may be a contributing factor to your tinnitus.
- General wellbeing and sleep patterns.
- Social and emotional support.
- Details of other health professionals who are involved in your care.

Comments

Can Allergies Cause Tinnitus?

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Some common medications can actually heighten the ringing and whistling noises in your head and ears. Tinnitus sufferers have found this out to their dismay, and warn others to be wary of large dosages (in excess of 600 mg) of Ibuprofen, for instance, and even to be careful when taking aspirin. In fact, there are people who insist that certain medications don't just make the condition worse, but can actually cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and are also taking antibiotics or other medications (even over-the-counter meds) for any medical condition -- running the gamut from arthritis to clinical depression (Prozac's frequently cited) -- let your doctor know. You should also monitor yourself with a daily record of medicines taken and tinnitus levels. You might be surprised to learn that some items known to worsen tinnitus include toothpastes (especially for sensitive gums), antacid tablets, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate and Pepcid. Click here for a comprehensive list ...

Try Saline When Your Hearing Is Muffled After Loud Noise Exposure

If you've got temporary hearing loss or tinnitus after being at a loud concert or sports event, you may be able to fix it -- if you act fast. A 2021 Keck Medicine of USC study published in Science Daily has found that the nerve damage to the inner ear caused by loud noises is basically a build up of fluids. Treating that "fluid buildup with a readily available saline solution lessened nerve damage in the inner ear." A previous study by the same otolaryngologist showed that inner ear fluid level is not affected until noises reach 100 decibels, which is how loud a motorcycle is. "When researchers applied hypertonic saline, a salt-based solution used to treat nasal congestions in humans, into affected ears one hour after the noise exposure, both the immediate fluid buildup and the long-term nerve damage lessened, implying that the hearing loss could be at least partially prevented." The benefits of this knowledge are twofold: 1. If fluid buildup can be measured, ...

Tinnitus Help - Stop the Ringing in Your Ears

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