A Message to All ENTs

When scheduling An ENT appointment, tell them you have a hearing loss if you have one and avoid mentioning the word 'tinnitus'. If you think that you may have a wax problem causing pain or ETD tell them that.

Most ENTs never read the Clinical Practice Guide that I posted a link to above. I think that this guide is a must read for all who have tinnitus and wish to seek medical help.

Pretty much. When my mom went for her (temporary) tinnitus, she mentioned "buzzing in ears" as a side affect and the ENT pretty much just mentally checked out. Mentioning tinnitus is the best way to make them not care.
 
When scheduling An ENT appointment, tell them you have a hearing loss if you have one and avoid mentioning the word 'tinnitus'. If you think that you may have a wax problem causing pain or ETD tell them that.

Most ENTs never read the Clinical Practice Guide that I posted a link to above. I think that this guide is a must read for all who have tinnitus and wish to seek medical help.

Thanks for posting that document @Greg Sacramento Initial tinnitus diagnoses and treatment at ENT on your side of the pond is different to ours in the UK.
 
First ENT I saw told me that my tinnitus will never go away and that, AS A MATTER OF FACT, some people commit suicide!

And.... I waited and paid for his expert opinion!
 
Why curse out the ENTs here? The ones here are probably more aware of T and more empathetic of T patients than ones who don't visit. Sadly it is very easy to expect modern medicine to treat or manage all ailments. My T and CP both agree that doctors aren't very useful much of the time.
 
Why see patients you know you can do nothing for? I know the answer to that question, but it remains still.
I think seeing an ENT is a great step in determining that you don't have some unlikely 'scary' condition, like a tumor, cancer, temporal arteritis, etc. This allows you to pursue a real solution, or at least habituate more easily, without falling back into the doubts and worries about the scary conditions.
Seeing an ENT for tinnitus is a bit like buying insurance, it's the best thing you can do in the worst-case scenario, but it is unlikely that you will ever use the services for their intended purpose other than peace of mind.
 
Yeah to be fair, I've yet to find a good ENT.

One tried to sell me on surgery ($5k+) and the other kept milking me for additional appointments even though he had no significant updates for me. Then he was trying to force me to have a MRI scan even though I had severe hyperacusis at the time, I told him I'd rather wait and then he threatened that he wouldn't write another referral if I changed my mind in the future. The whole thing was a bit strange.

Also there needs to be some serious revision with how audiologists and ENTs conduct their research. The fact that most clinics and doctors still only test hearing up to 8khz in 2017 is beyond ridiculous. Surely limiting testing in this fashion would have had an affect on the quality of research we have available to us today. I'd understand that the technology would have been expensive back a couple decades ago but there's really no excuse for any clinic or doctor to only test patient's hearing up to 8khz in this day and age.

That said, in spite of me not having any luck with ENTs. I did end up finding a couple of fantastic audiologists locally who were of great help and have made many meaningful contributions to tinnitus and hyperacusis research.
 
I would say that an audiologist for tinnitus is the better choice than an ENT doctor. Of course, the audiologist probably wants to sell a hearing aid..., - but you can understand that, - and avoidable.....
Its difficult, but yes, it can be avoidable.
 
That said, in spite of me not having any luck with ENTs. I did end up finding a couple of fantastic audiologists locally who were of great help and have made many meaningful contributions to tinnitus and hyperacusis research.
Myriam Westcott?
 
ENTs have no answer due to no medical cure until there is a treatment then doc have no answer. The merry go round just keeps on going. Researchers have to start coming forward with better ideas and results.
 
Yep Myriam and Ross Dineen over at http://www.dineenwestcottmoore.com.au/

I've been to countless audiologists in private clinics and hospitals all around Melbourne and they were by far the best. Ross Dineen spent 3 or so hours with me on my first visit. Helped me tremendously at the time.

I spoke to Myriam over the phone few times and she was really lovely and took time to listen and explain.
It's hard to believe that people like that still exist in medical profession where as soon as you make a call they tell you what the fees are or even if you are an existing patient they never bother to return your call.
She just took time to talk to me out of, what I believe is, a genuine wish to help.
 
I spoke to Myriam over the phone few times and she was really lovely and took time to listen and explain.
It's hard to believe that people like that still exist in medical profession where as soon as you make a call they tell you what the fees are or even if you are an existing patient they never bother to return your call.
She just took time to talk to me out of, what I believe is, a genuine wish to help.
that's my experience of both ross and miriam too.

my ent, whilst was blunt, was honest about my situation (he has t too)

the dr i saw at the eye and ear hospital melbourne was compassionate and supportive
 
As I mentioned today in another thread, I went to the best facility for tinnitus in NYC today, the otoligist that I saw has tinnitus himself. He said that there was nothing they could do for me except recommend CBT, masking, and possibly get a hearing aid which may reduce or mask the tinnitus, as I have a bit of SNH. He offered to give me an MRI or whatever other tests I wanted but he found no problems with my ears, and felt that it would be a waste of time and money to have them. I'm beginning to think that some of the ENT doctors may not be the best for bedside manner, as many other doctors are the same way, but in many cases of tinnitus, there's really nothing much they can do, so maybe it's time that we cut some them little slack.
 
the dr i saw at the eye and ear hospital melbourne was compassionate and supportive
The first visit I had there was good, but when I went back for a follow-up review (long drive from Cairns) I was told by a different consultant that they weren't interested in even seeing me unless my hearing was dropping in and out. I still don't know what that was supposed to imply. It was like "when we say Eye and Ear, we don't actually mean ear".
 
consultant that they weren't interested in even seeing me unless my hearing was dropping in and out

This is my point @PaulBe When there isn't an underlying medical problem that can be treated medically or surgically which is causing the tinnitus: Hearing loss, Menier's, otoscelrois, tumour, ETD etc ENT doctors normally recommend, referring a patient to an Audologist or Hearing Therapist for tinnitus treatment and management. This can involve: Hearing aids, white noise generators, sound therapy devices. counselling, CBT, TRT, mindfulness, relaxation classes. Stress management. Medication.

Michael
 
This is my point @PaulBe When there isn't an underlying medical problem that can be treated medically or surgically...
But, my point is they rarely take any steps beyond basic cursory examinations (if even that) to actually prove this, they only presume it (just look at some of the threads on pulsatile tinnitus).

You had the rare fortune to experience quality, holistic care as it should be, based on the best practice of the day (which is probably still current). Unfortunately your experience appears to be the exception rather than the rule. That to me is a huge and ongoing problem, which an ethical medical profession could address, but in the main, still doesn't. I know Myriam Westcott was doing ongoing-education seminars in some Melbourne Hospitals addressing this exact issue (I know because she asked if she could use my experience as a case presentation on how medicine fails those seeking help). What you had that most of us didn't get were the all important holistic touchstones of compassion, communication and education, and these are the things in healthcare that put floors under people, even when no med/surg treatments are possible. Ask any cancer patient. The greatest source of medical complaints we see in hospitals tend to revolve around communication issues, mostly with doctors.

I actually consider myself over the worst of this T & H experience, but I've not really lost my anger at, and disappointment with the Medical profession. I am certainly as a result far less tolerant of their bullshit in the workplace than I once was.
 
Ha, my ENT was great. She just said, "Matt, you own it now"
I never had any delusions I am going to be free of it. If I am, I will thrilled, but I do believe it's permanent. Soldier on..

...the coldness of it was her final gift
 
This is my point @PaulBe When there isn't an underlying medical problem that can be treated medically or surgically which is causing the tinnitus: Hearing loss, Menier's, otoscelrois, tumour, ETD etc ENT doctors normally recommend, referring a patient to an Audologist or Hearing Therapist for tinnitus treatment and management. This can involve: Hearing aids, white noise generators, sound therapy devices. counselling, CBT, TRT, mindfulness, relaxation classes. Stress management. Medication.

Michael
They don't do it here. The only referral I got was to the pharmacy for antibiotics and not having an ear infection...

The audiologist in ENT office's are employees they can't really dictate.... I asked the audiologist from the ENT office what can I do for t or h or ear pain? She said: use a fan that should help.
 
I think seeing an ENT is a great step in determining that you don't have some unlikely 'scary' condition, like a tumor, cancer, temporal arteritis, etc. This allows you to pursue a real solution, or at least habituate more easily, without falling back into the doubts and worries about the scary conditions.
Seeing an ENT for tinnitus is a bit like buying insurance, it's the best thing you can do in the worst-case scenario, but it is unlikely that you will ever use the services for their intended purpose other than peace of mind.

because of my ENT my T has worsened and I got debilitating hyperacusis. Sometimes its better to leave it alone and not make trouble.
 
I'm beginning to think that some of the ENT doctors may not be the best for bedside manner, as many other doctors are the same way, but in many cases of tinnitus, there's really nothing much they can do, so maybe it's time that we cut some them little slack.

I agree if it's just noise induced tinnitus, but doctors and dentists can do a lot more for those with physical tinnitus. Sometimes even those with noise induced tinnitus also have some physical and or infection problems.
 
They don't do it here. The only referral I got was to the pharmacy for antibiotics and not having an ear infection...

The audiologist in ENT office's are employees they can't really dictate.... I asked the audiologist from the ENT office what can I do for t or h or ear pain? She said: use a fan that should help.

I am sorry to hear that you are unable to get the help that you need @1000
Michael
 
They don't care, you are just a number to them...and a pay check. They know that T isn't curable so they will dance circles around you while trying to get you to come back for as many visits as possible. People with T are often times desperate for any chance at recovery , they make easy victims to these scammy practices...and it is sad to see patients get used by inexperienced doctors who has good intentions perhaps, but end up hurting their patients even more.
 
They don't care, you are just a number to them...and a pay check. They know that T isn't curable so they will dance circles around you while trying to get you to come back for as many visits as possible. People with T are often times desperate for any chance at recovery , they make easy victims to these scammy practices...and it is sad to see patients get used by inexperienced doctors who has good intentions perhaps, but end up hurting their patients even more.

Well my T was unilateral (one ear) without ear fullness or Hyperacusis. This is what my audiologist wrote on my report:
DPDX seemed to associate the onset of the tinnitus with the music exposure, and this does seem a possibility. However, the fact that he did not report the tinnitus starting until a week later would not be as consistent with noise induced hearing loss or acoustic trauma, which would be more likely to be noticed immediately after exposure.

My ENT was happy as hell. She said I could have: Acoustic Neuroma, Cochlear Hydrops, Meniere disease, Thryoid cancer, Blood Cancer, B12 deficiency , TMJ problems, Parotid Gland Cancer, salivary gland cancer, Labyrinthic disease, etc etc

Last time I saw her she said its all in my head and caloric.vemp cant do damage:(
 

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