Do you hear buzzing, whistling, clicking, or other noises that no one else hears? If you answered yes, then you are suffering from tinnitus, a problem that is far more common than people realize. In Quebec, as many as one million people suffer from tinnitus!
Regardless of how loud the noises are, they can become intrusive and disturbing on a daily basis. The good news is that a consultation for tinnitus at an ENT doctor can help you better understand and manage the symptoms.
What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound when there is no external source. The nature of the sound can vary. Generally, it can feel like buzzing, whistling, clicking, or even pulsing.
Have you ever experienced whistling or buzzing in your ears after a concert? This is tinnitus. However, some people experience it continuously and persistently. There are two main types of tinnitus:
- Subjective tinnitus, which is caused by neuronal activity. The neurons send sound signals to the ear when they “should not be.”
- Objective tinnitus, which is of a vascular nature. It is caused by a sound coming from the blood vessels close to the ear.
In many cases, subjective tinnitus is caused by some hearing loss that the hearing system is trying to compensate for by increasing its sensitivity. It can also be caused by stress, a loud noise, or prolonged exposure to noise.
As for objective tinnitus, it is caused by an abnormality in the blood vessels or vascularization. A tumour, malformation, or neurological injury could be behind these pulsations.
Why You Should See an ENT Doctor for Tinnitus
When you suffer from tinnitus, consulting an ENT doctor can help you identify the underlying cause. This not only allows you to understand your condition better, but may also potentially treat a problem that you were not aware of.
For example, some people hear tinnitus even before realizing they suffer from hearing loss. In such a scenario, the screening test helps diagnose hearing loss. It is worthwhile to have this test done at an ENT clinic, since it is covered by the RAMQ.
Moreover, the ENT doctor will be able to determine whether the hearing loss is sensorineural or conductive. In the first case, they will ask you to make an appointment with an audioprosthetist. If the problem is conductive, meaning sounds do not carry all the way from the middle ear to the inner ear, they can identify and treat it. The problem could be one of the following:
- Earwax blockage
- Infection
- Fluid buildup
- Perforation in the eardrum
- Otosclerosis
The ENT specialist can also continue the examination if the tinnitus does not have an auditory cause. Pulsatile tinnitus, namely, requires a comprehensive clinical exam and sometimes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
It turns out several people ask themselves this question: Should you see an ENT doctor or an audioprosthetist for tinnitus? Of course, the treatment will depend on the cause, but the ENT doctor is often a good start. In fact, these two professionals frequently work together.
What to Expect at Your ENT Appointment
During a consultation for tinnitus with your ENT doctor, they will start by discussing your symptoms more in depth. The doctor will ask you specific questions to better understand your condition. These questions can cover:
- The circumstances that lead to the appearance of the symptoms
- The other symptoms that could be related to it (hearing loss, dizziness, pain, etc.).
- The type of tinnitus (buzzing, whistling, pulsing, etc.) and its nature (constant, sporadic, in one or in both ears).
They will then proceed with an examination of your ears to check the state of your eardrums, the presence of earwax, and other anomalies. They will do different tests, depending on the symptoms you describe. The doctor will provide a diagnosis based on the results of the tests and examinations. If there is no visible cause, the ENT doctor can recommend another type of consultation. This can take the form of psychotherapy, for example.
Treatment Options
Of course, treatments will vary depending on the cause and severity of your tinnitus symptoms. Here are some of the treatments that could be proposed to you, depending on your condition:
- Treatment of identifiable causes.
If a cause is treatable, the ENT doctor will start with this cause or direct you to the most competent specialist. In this case, potential treatments may include earwax removal, treatment of an infection, or surgery.
- Wearing a hearing aid in case of hearing loss.
Hearing aids can help alleviate tinnitus. They can help mask tinnitus by increasing sounds in the environment. They can also stimulate the auditory system and reduce the production of unwanted sounds.
- Background noises and psychotherapy
Occasionally, there is no identifiable cause for tinnitus. If tinnitus is affecting your quality of life, there are several approaches you can consider. Sometimes, investing in a white noise machine, or just having a radio or a fan in the background, can help mask tinnitus by providing the brain with auditory information.
Finally, psychotherapy can help reduce the stress in question or the emotional response to tinnitus.
A First Step to a Better Life
Living with tinnitus can cause psychological distress and the condition can sometimes reveal an underlying problem. Consulting an ENT doctor for tinnitus is the first step towards gaining a better understanding of your condition and having access to concrete solutions.
Although tinnitus cannot always be completely cured, you can get back some quality of life with proper treatment. Make an appointment at our Montreal clinic today and start your journey toward a better life. We will help you find calm and peace of mind again.
