If You Visited an ENT, Were You Satisfied with Your Experience?

[Hil]

I was not. The ENT only spent a few minutes with me, and didn't want to pursue the issues I brought up.

A doctor years previously said I still had adenoid tissue -- which could be a factor in Eustachian tube dysfunction...the ENT dismissed it by saying it'd be "next to impossible" for me to still have adenoids as an adult.

I also brought up the fact that simultaneous with my tinnitus starting (and ear pain & pressure) has been a "cr-crick" noise in one ear immediately following any high, sharp noise I hear. He was dismissive about that too saying that's just a muscle contracting and there's nothing that can be done about that.

Said I had ETD due most likely to allergies, and to see an allergist. Said my tinnitus is a "quality of life" issue, but nothing is seriously wrong with me, medically. I felt kind frustrated that after waiting 2 months for an appointment, after only a few minutes of talking, I was out the door again.

Incidentally, I saw an allergist since then, and the whole panel of tests came back negative. Which was confusing since I've had what I thought were allergies all my life. Then I found that allergy blood tests can yield false negatives. Not sure how common that is. There are also forms of non-allergic rhinitis (all the symptoms you associate with nasal allergies, but a different cause.)

 

[Poyraz]

As a person who has seen 3 different ENTs, I can pretty much say that I'm more educated than them in tinnitus.

 

[linearb]

I've seen about seven different ENTs over the years.

I'd say I've been very satisfied with one of them, found two of them acceptable, two of them unacceptable and two of them fairly wretched.

 

[Alue]

I saw two shortly after my trauma. The first one was sympathetic and proactive, she put me on oral steroids and offered to do injection steroids in the eardrum (I regret not trying this but I didn't know any better at the time).

The second one I saw who ironically has tinnitus told me it's likely permanent, get a masking hearing aid and learn to live with it. He told me 'don't bother looking for a cure, there never will be one', and 'we'll see you in a year'. Maybe he was right, and maybe he was a bit jaded since he had tinnitus too, but I liked the more proactive approach. I saw him right after the other doctor because of scheduling, and he just crushed the hopes I had of it going away.

In reality there is very little help an ENT can do in most cases, and this is frustrating for the patient and the doctor.

 

[Hardwell]

I had my long-awaited ENT appointment today (which I waited for 2 months). I wasn't expecting much from my appointment after reading everyone else's experiences on Tinnitus Talk. Yet, still to leave so underwhelmed and disappointed was a bit of a shock.

My ear infection over the last month seems to have cleared which is maybe good news, I was kind of hoping it was still there to explain this crazy tinnitus. I will say that bedside manner wise my ENT was fantastic in that sense and seemed to be really interested in getting as much background information as possible to be able to help.

Unfortunately, my partner was adamant about attending this consultation which I was against but she won that disagreement. My ENT believes my exacerbation could be due to my stiff neck, grinding of my teeth and my anxiety. He told me I should get a massage and a night guard, oh and of course he recommended I do TRT.

I was expecting TRT to be recommended as it always is, but I didn't expect what he had to say about it. He told me he's been dealing with tinnitus for over 40 years and everyone that does TRT gets better. He also told me to stay off of forums because there's people on them who don't have tinnitus but create horror stories. And those that do have the horrible cases of tinnitus and don't improve likely have mental conditions. How absolutely absurd to say things like this, just means we are intentionally overlooked.

So now with my partner in attendance of that meeting, she thinks I can be cured by doing TRT and just reducing my anxiety. My whole family now think it's an easy fix like that.

Here I am at my lowest, the lifeline of finding a cause to my exacerbation is over. The support of my partner and family will soon diminish because they don't understand what this is really like and they think I can easily be fixed.

I'm ever grateful and saddened to have you great lot who are also suffering with this as support.

 

[gameover]

I was expecting TRT to be recommended as it always is, but I didn't expect what he had to say about it. He told me he's been dealing with tinnitus for over 40 years and everyone that does TRT gets better. He also told me to stay off of forums because there's people on them who don't have tinnitus but create horror stories. And those that do have the horrible cases of tinnitus and don't improve likely have mental conditions. How absolutely absurd to say things like this, just means we are intentionally overlooked.

What a POS. It is so typical, dismissing knowledge and experience of others. Heck, this is the same thing that car dealerships will tell you. You read about genuine, confirmed, diagnosed issue with a particular car. You bring this up with such a "professional", and the answer will be "you read it on the internet? do not believe it".

 

[Juan]

I was expecting TRT to be recommended as it always is, but I didn't expect what he had to say about it. He told me he's been dealing with tinnitus for over 40 years and everyone that does TRT gets better. He also told me to stay off of forums because there's people on them who don't have tinnitus but create horror stories. And those that do have the horrible cases of tinnitus and don't improve likely have mental conditions. How absolutely absurd to say things like this, just means we are intentionally overlooked.

ENTs often make those blanket statements, as if a treatment could work for everyone.

In my experience, it's important to be around sound, but the whole un-scientific and simple TRT protocol cannot cure a sensorineural injury. Most likely people get used to their tinnitus or hyperacusis because their brain adapts over time; that's not a cure, it is just habituation. Sometimes an "improvement" or rather, an habituation is attributed to TRT or counselling, or whatever (if you were taking a pill they would say you improved because of that) but in fact it's just the passage of time, the lowering of anxiety and brain plasticity that do the trick.

 

[Jammer]

I had my long-awaited ENT appointment today (which I waited for 2 months). I wasn't expecting much from my appointment after reading everyone else's experiences on Tinnitus Talk. Yet, still to leave so underwhelmed and disappointed was a bit of a shock.

My ear infection over the last month seems to have cleared which is maybe good news, I was kind of hoping it was still there to explain this crazy tinnitus. I will say that bedside manner wise my ENT was fantastic in that sense and seemed to be really interested in getting as much background information as possible to be able to help.

Unfortunately, my partner was adamant about attending this consultation which I was against but she won that disagreement. My ENT believes my exacerbation could be due to my stiff neck, grinding of my teeth and my anxiety. He told me I should get a massage and a night guard, oh and of course he recommended I do TRT.

I was expecting TRT to be recommended as it always is, but I didn't expect what he had to say about it. He told me he's been dealing with tinnitus for over 40 years and everyone that does TRT gets better. He also told me to stay off of forums because there's people on them who don't have tinnitus but create horror stories. And those that do have the horrible cases of tinnitus and don't improve likely have mental conditions. How absolutely absurd to say things like this, just means we are intentionally overlooked.

So now with my partner in attendance of that meeting, she thinks I can be cured by doing TRT and just reducing my anxiety. My whole family now think it's an easy fix like that.

Here I am at my lowest, the lifeline of finding a cause to my exacerbation is over. The support of my partner and family will soon diminish because they don't understand what this is really like and they think I can easily be fixed.

I'm ever grateful and saddened to have you great lot who are also suffering with this as support.

I understand completely. After looking at my ears and picking out a small piece of wax, my ENT doctor never told me anything other than to live with it.

If I believed doctors' advice over my wife's descriptions of her ailments, she would have been dead. Dead. This is no exaggeration.

Thankfully, she fully understands and sympathizes with me about my daily struggles with tinnitus/hyperacusis. We support each other 100%.

Hopefully, you can successfully move past this crappy ENT appointment.

 

[RunningMan]

My ENT recommended Melatonin (I think more for the sleep problem) and Lipoflavonoids. Melatonin has never had any effect on me in a range of doses, and I didn't see any evidence that Lipoflavonoids really helped anyone. I didn't return as I didn't see any point. At least he didn't mention any of the TRT nonsense.

 

[gameover]

How did the Lipoflavonoid nonsense come about?

 

[RunningMan]

How did the Lipoflavonoid nonsense come about?

It goes back a long way with some ENTs suggesting their use, but not apparently not based on any evidence that they work. Older thread:

Lipoflavonoid for Tinnitus? Helps or Not?

 

[kingsfan]

An ENT took me from decently bad to life-altering bad. I would avoid.

 

[Michael Leigh]

My ENT believes my exacerbation could be due to my stiff neck, grinding of my teeth and my anxiety. He told me I should get a massage and a night guard, oh and of course he recommended I do TRT.

I agree with your ENT on some of his suggestions but not everything. I want to make something clear that some people do not understand or may not be aware of. ENT doctors are physicians, not tinnitus specialists. They treat underlying medical problems within the auditory system that cause tinnitus which there are many, but they don't treat tinnitus, especially when the underlying cause is noise induced, as in your case @Hardwell.

It was right for you to be seen at ENT for the consultation, and if necessary, to have tests on your auditory system to make sure it is functioning correctly. Once the ENT is satisfied, I expect them to refer you to Audiology, where you will see either an audiologist or hearing therapist which is the usual practice in the UK as mentioned in my thread: Tinnitus, A Personal View.

I believe your ENT means well and was trying to offer words of encouragement by saying he's been dealing with tinnitus for 40 years, which is probably true. He mentions everyone that has TRT gets better. This proves to me that he has never suffered from severe, debilitating tinnitus, for if he had and really understood about tinnitus and the way it can affect a person's mental and emotional wellbeing, he would never had made such an erroneous statement. The truth of the matter is, tinnitus is a very common condition that a lot of people habituate to and are able to live their life quite comfortably doing everything that they want to, with or without being referred to a tinnitus specialist.

However, like many medical conditions, tinnitus presents itself in different levels of severity and no two people experience it the same. It can be mild, moderate, severe or very severe. It can be intermittent or constant and can fluctuate in intensity enormously. If a person has hyperacusis, it can complicate matters further. I have explained this in many of my posts. TRT can indeed be helpful but it would be totally wrong to say everyone that has it gets better because there are many factors involved.

The treatment needs to be administered correctly, as mentioned in my posts on TRT. Ideally the patient should be having regular counselling for 2 years with a therapist that has tinnitus. They should also wear white noise generators for sound therapy. This helps to treat the tinnitus, and hyperacusis if it is present. Medication may also be required.

Your tinnitus increased after 8 years of habituation. I believe this was caused by further exposure to loud noise or headphones use. It could have been a combination of both. Therefore, you have what I call, variable tinnitus. This condition can manifest itself in many forms. Recovery is possible and will take time, the way to achieve this is mentioned in my thread: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus?

It sounds to me you have a supportive partner which is good. If she is willing to know more about tinnitus, please ask her to read my threads that you have printed. This way she will understand more about this condition and how severe it can be for some people that live with it.

Take whatever help you can get on the NHS and be careful not to make any demands, as some people do, as this kind of attitude may not be well received. Please consider my previous advice on taking prescription or herbal medication if you are feeling stressed. Discus this with your doctor.

All the best,
Michael

 

[Tweaker]

An ENT took me from decently bad to life-altering bad. I would avoid.

ENT also made me permanently worse.

 

[Hardwell]

Sorry for my absence and lack of reply to all of you. But as you're all aware I'm sure, this condition can take a massive strain on your cognitive abilities and I was just a bit overwhelmed at the task of replying to everyone individually with the respect they deserved.

Furthering on from my appointment with the well renowned tinnitus specialist ENT, most of my concerns were brushed aside or given no explanation with their possible correlation to a tinnitus exacerbation. I left with the usual diagnosis of anxiety, stiff neck and treat with TRT.

Well, today I received a letter about said consultation and there's a lot more diagnosis in there which weren't mentioned to me at all in the consultation or that they could be related to my exacerbation of tinnitus.

So these diagnoses that weren't discussed in consultation or thought to lead to exacerbation are, Deviated Septum, TMJ Disorder, Rhinitis, Bruxism, possible ETD and columellae dislocation (I have no idea what this is, it wasn't talked about either).

He obviously is more informed than I, but I believe most of the conditions above have been listed as possible causation for tinnitus exacerbation. Not sure why none of which was discussed to me in the consultation.

 

[scared8]

Unfortunately, no.

After experiencing an acoustic trauma that was probably 90-110 dB for about 10 minutes in an MRI machine (it was a head MRI, so directly near my ear - I'm the dumbest person on the planet), I now have severe noise sensitivity (still do) to the point where putting a cup down feels unsettling. Having ear pain now, too. Three months in and no improvement (possibly even a bit worse but hard to tell).

I saw an ENT very shortly after the exposure. Her diagnosis was that it was mainly ANXIETY. I was shocked but I shouldn't have been. She is nice as a person, but it was clear that she (and the two audiologists I saw) had little (and/or) misinformed understanding of hyperacusis.

I think the ENT said that MRIs could not cause my symptoms. I have no medial training or knowledge and I know that is not correct. There are scientific papers and many testimonies of sufferers who had their lives changed (even ruined) by MRIs.

I am not a medical doctor so I am definitely not suggesting to avoid visiting an ENT or audiologist. I just learned the hard way that (and this is honestly not their fault) there is not enough knowledge for doctors on the condition and cases are varying/subjective, so advice that worked for one person could hurt or not even work for another. I would STRONGLY avoid any testing that requires sound of any kind, especially directly in the ear. The second audiologist asked for a hearing/LDL test and I declined.

Apologies for the rant, and I'm praying for your healing.

 

[RunningMan]

So these diagnoses that weren't discussed in consultation or thought to lead to exacerbation are, Deviated Septum, TMJ Disorder, Rhinitis, Bruxism, possible ETD and columellae dislocation (I have no idea what this is, it wasn't talked about either).

He obviously is more informed than I, but I believe most of the conditions above have been listed as possible causation for tinnitus exacerbation. Not sure why none of which was discussed to me in the consultation.

This makes me think maybe they were just possible causes that were available and could be selected within their HIS software/template rather than anything the ENT really thought might have caused your problems, especially if they couldn't be specifically ruled out, which would explain why they were not mentioned at all to you. Of course, I can't be sure of this, but just keep in mind and verify with your ENT to confirm.

 

[Michael Leigh]

well renowned tinnitus specialist ENT, most of my concerns were brushed aside or given no explanation with their possible correlation to a tinnitus exacerbation. I left with the usual diagnosis of anxiety, stiff neck and treat with TRT.

I have no doubt that your ENT doctor is well renowned and gave you a thorough examination of your auditory system. Please remember he is a physician and treats underlying medical conditions that cause tinnitus and there are many, but he does not treat tinnitus because this isn't his area of expertise. This is one of the reasons he brushed aside your concerns and was unable to give you the correct reason for the increase in your tinnitus.

With all due respect to your ENT, I say his knowledge of noise-induced tinnitus is limited and therefore, he believes the increase in your tinnitus is probably a combination of anxiety and the symptoms he has diagnosed you with in his letter. You may indeed have some of them but they did not cause the sudden increase in your tinnitus after a long habituation period of 8 years.

Everything that you have mentioned in your previous posts, leads me to believe the increase in your tinnitus is either exposure to loud sounds or headphone use. It could also be a combination of the two. I also had a habituation period lasting 8 years, to the point I completely forgot about tinnitus because it was silent for most of the time. However, one night that changed after listening to my audio system too loud, resulting in my tinnitus returning with a vengeance the next morning. I have explained this in my thread: My Experience with Tinnitus.

You have what I call variable tinnitus @Hardwell. When a person habituates to noise-induced tinnitus, and is subjected to further loud noise or uses headphones, there is the risk of the tinnitus returning, often more severe than before. It can improve with time. Take whatever help you can get from the NHS and read my posts.

Take care,
Michael

 

[DeanD]

I had my long-awaited ENT appointment today (which I waited for 2 months). I wasn't expecting much from my appointment after reading everyone else's experiences on Tinnitus Talk. Yet, still to leave so underwhelmed and disappointed was a bit of a shock.

My ear infection over the last month seems to have cleared which is maybe good news, I was kind of hoping it was still there to explain this crazy tinnitus. I will say that bedside manner wise my ENT was fantastic in that sense and seemed to be really interested in getting as much background information as possible to be able to help.

Unfortunately, my partner was adamant about attending this consultation which I was against but she won that disagreement. My ENT believes my exacerbation could be due to my stiff neck, grinding of my teeth and my anxiety. He told me I should get a massage and a night guard, oh and of course he recommended I do TRT.

I was expecting TRT to be recommended as it always is, but I didn't expect what he had to say about it. He told me he's been dealing with tinnitus for over 40 years and everyone that does TRT gets better. He also told me to stay off of forums because there's people on them who don't have tinnitus but create horror stories. And those that do have the horrible cases of tinnitus and don't improve likely have mental conditions. How absolutely absurd to say things like this, just means we are intentionally overlooked.

So now with my partner in attendance of that meeting, she thinks I can be cured by doing TRT and just reducing my anxiety. My whole family now think it's an easy fix like that.

Here I am at my lowest, the lifeline of finding a cause to my exacerbation is over. The support of my partner and family will soon diminish because they don't understand what this is really like and they think I can easily be fixed.

I'm ever grateful and saddened to have you great lot who are also suffering with this as support.

The problem is 99% of those who have tinnitus have it mild, in which TRT could be very beneficial, and 1% have it severe, in which the benefits aren't going to touch the surface.

You at least had a better experience than I did - he didn't look at my ears, told me it will go away soon and I won't have to live life like this forever, and ushered me out of the door.

That cost £200 (about $300).

I then tried to book an appointment with the same ENT a month later for my ear crackling to be called by his secretary to say "the ENT can't help you anymore and suggests you go for 'Tinnitus Therapy."

The wonderful supportive world we live in.

I agree with your ENT on some of his suggestions but not everything. I want to make something clear that some people do not understand or may not be aware of. ENT doctors are physicians, not tinnitus specialists. They treat underlying medical problems within the auditory system that cause tinnitus which there are many, but they don't treat tinnitus, especially when the underlying cause is noise induced, as in your case @Hardwell.

It was right for you to be seen at ENT for the consultation, and if necessary, to have tests on your auditory system to make sure it is functioning correctly. Once the ENT is satisfied, I expect them to refer you to Audiology, where you will see either an audiologist or hearing therapist which is the usual practice in the UK as mentioned in my thread: Tinnitus, A Personal View.

I believe your ENT means well and was trying to offer words of encouragement by saying he's been dealing with tinnitus for 40 years, which is probably true. He mentions everyone that has TRT gets better. This proves to me that he has never suffered from severe, debilitating tinnitus, for if he had and really understood about tinnitus and the way it can affect a person's mental and emotional wellbeing, he would never had made such an erroneous statement. The truth of the matter is, tinnitus is a very common condition that a lot of people habituate to and are able to live their life quite comfortably doing everything that they want to, with or without being referred to a tinnitus specialist.

However, like many medical conditions, tinnitus presents itself in different levels of severity and no two people experience it the same. It can be mild, moderate, severe or very severe. It can be intermittent or constant and can fluctuate in intensity enormously. If a person has hyperacusis, it can complicate matters further. I have explained this in many of my posts. TRT can indeed be helpful but it would be totally wrong to say everyone that has it gets better because there are many factors involved.

The treatment needs to be administered correctly, as mentioned in my posts on TRT. Ideally the patient should be having regular counselling for 2 years with a therapist that has tinnitus. They should also wear white noise generators for sound therapy. This helps to treat the tinnitus, and hyperacusis if it is present. Medication may also be required.

Your tinnitus increased after 8 years of habituation. I believe this was caused by further exposure to loud noise or headphones use. It could have been a combination of both. Therefore, you have what I call, variable tinnitus. This condition can manifest itself in many forms. Recovery is possible and will take time, the way to achieve this is mentioned in my thread: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus?

It sounds to me you have a supportive partner which is good. If she is willing to know more about tinnitus, please ask her to read my threads that you have printed. This way she will understand more about this condition and how severe it can be for some people that live with it.

Take whatever help you can get on the NHS and be careful not to make any demands, as some people do, as this kind of attitude may not be well received. Please consider my previous advice on taking prescription or herbal medication if you are feeling stressed. Discus this with your doctor.

All the best,
Michael

Hi Michael - I'm not sure people expect a lot from an ENT in regards to tinnitus help, as you rightly point out this would fall to an audiologist - but unfortunately for a medical professional who specialises in the very instrument in which tinnitus originates from, and is impacted by (i.e. the ear), their ignorance has been damaging to many.

Tinnitus may not be their forte but responsibility lies with them to ensure that ignorance, lack of knowledge and understanding does not make their patient worse when dealing with the ear.

If it is nothing to do with them, they should not comment or make judgement.

This is meant to be their specialty after all.

You would not expect a gastroenterologist to perform treatment on a stomach problem whilst causing damage to the lungs, simply because the lungs are out of their remit and understanding.

I have no doubt that your ENT doctor is well renowned and gave you a thorough examination of your auditory system. Please remember he is a physician and treats underlying medical conditions that cause tinnitus and there are many, but he does not treat tinnitus because this isn't his area of expertise. This is one of the reasons he brushed aside your concerns and was unable to give you the correct reason for the increase in your tinnitus.

With all due respect to your ENT, I say his knowledge of noise-induced tinnitus is limited and therefore, he believes the increase in your tinnitus is probably a combination of anxiety and the symptoms he has diagnosed you with in his letter. You may indeed have some of them but they did not cause the sudden increase in your tinnitus after a long habituation period of 8 years.

Everything that you have mentioned in your previous posts, leads me to believe the increase in your tinnitus is either exposure to loud sounds or headphone use. It could also be a combination of the two. I also had a habituation period lasting 8 years, to the point I completely forgot about tinnitus because it was silent for most of the time. However, one night that changed after listening to my audio system too loud, resulting in my tinnitus returning with a vengeance the next morning. I have explained this in my thread: My Experience with Tinnitus.

You have what I call variable tinnitus @Hardwell. When a person habituates to noise-induced tinnitus, and is subjected to further loud noise or uses headphones, there is the risk of the tinnitus returning, often more severe than before. It can improve with time. Take whatever help you can get from the NHS and read my posts.

Take care,
Michael

If tinnitus and hyperacusis are not an ENT's area of expertise, they should say as such.

I am going through other health issues, in which I have to say the NHS in three counties now have been absolutely diabolical - the system right now is truly broken - but enough consultants have told me that some of my symptoms are not their area of expertise.

I have seen three ENTs, and all three offer advice, opinions and "diagnosis" on these conditions as if this was a condition part of their remit - and some "tips" would have been dangerous - rather than saying "I don't know, its not my area of expertise."

If tinnitus and hyperacusis are not areas of knowledge for ENT consultants, it's about time they were open and honest, and said as such.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi Michael - I'm not sure people expect a lot from an ENT in regards to tinnitus help, as you rightly point out this would fall to an audiologist - but unfortunately for a medical professional who specialises in the very instrument in which tinnitus originates from, and is impacted by (i.e. the ear), their ignorance has been damaging to many.

Hi @DeanD.

You have raised some interesting points. Whilst ENT doctors do not treat tinnitus, it is important that anyone suffering from this condition is first examined by them, to find out whether there is an underlying medical problem within the auditory system that is causing the tinnitus. As I mentioned in my previous post, many things can cause tinnitus that I have covered in my thread: Tinnitus, A Personal View. If a medical problem is causing the tinnitus, then the ENT will usually try to treat it medically or surgically. Please do not underestimate the importance of ENTs, for they are highly skilled physicians.

Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of tinnitus. Some people will also develop hyperacusis from it. I do not believe one can learn about noise-induced tinnitus and hyperacusis from a book or at medical school, to any large degree. It is possible learn the way these conditions can affect a person but this is entirely different from having first hand experience living with them. Why is this important one might ask? It is vitally important because noise-induced tinnitus and hyperacusis can affect a person's mental and emotional wellbeing profoundly. Remember, the ENT doctor treats the underlying medical problem that is causing the tinnitus but they don't treat tinnitus.

In the case of noise-induced tinnitus with or without hyperacusis, the patient should be referred from ENT to Audiology, which is the usual practice in the UK. ENT will usually advise a patient to wait and see if the tinnitus subsides before referring them to Audiology, and this is the right approach. As you rightly say, many people have mild tinnitus. Noise-induced tinnitus with or without hyperacusis will often (but not always) reduce or completely go away with time. The ear is a very delicate organ and for this reason, many ENTs will tell a patient to wait and see if the tinnitus settles down by itself. Too early an intervention could make the tinnitus worse!

After 4, preferably 6 months has elapsed, if the patient is still having difficulty habituating to the tinnitus, ENT will usually refer them to Audiology for tinnitus and hyperacusis management. This is the practice in the UK and I agree with it.

Many audiologists and hearing therapists that work with tinnitus patients, were either born with tinnitus or acquired it at some time in their life. This is important when administering TRT, CBT or counselling to a tinnitus patient. In my opinion, an audiologist or hearing therapist cannot give high quality tinnitus counselling unless they live with the condition. This is the reason most ENT doctors do not treat tinnitus because it cannot be learnt from a book.

Although the ear has suffered the noise trauma and is affected, it sends a distress signal to the brain that there is a problem within the auditory system. The brain decodes this signal into tinnitus. Therefore, the tinnitus noise is coming from the brain and not the ear.

Michael

 

[ECP]

I spent my whole life believing that ENT stands for "Ear, Nose, Throat."

The acronym really ought to stand for "I am an Expert, but Not in Tinnitus."

You wanna hear something crazy? My HMO doesn't even use the ENT acronym any more. They call this department HNS, which stands for...

...Head & Neck Surgery!

That's very telling, isn't it? I have no doubt that these ENTs are very knowledgeable about ears, but the very fact that they now identify as HNS shows that their training is heavily biased towards a surgical approach. And since most cases of tinnitus and hyperacusis are still treated by means other than surgery, they are at a loss for what to recommend.

Sad to say, tinnitus and hyperacusis are like hot potatoes that nobody wants to touch. Audiologists don't get nearly enough training and education for how to handle the severe cases, and apparently neither do ENTs.

With so many smart people working in both fields, we could all be getting better treatment if only the medical schools and audiology schools would shore up their educational requirements.

My experience seeing the HNS department wasn't fruitful, but at least they treated me well. The doctor and physician's assistant who examined me were respectful, and they didn't call me a hypochondriac or a liar or a malingerer. But they were both completely at a loss to help me.

The few times I dealt with them, the awkwardness in the air was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. I could tell that both of these guys felt bad for me because I was crying, and they may have even felt bad about themselves for not being to help. And I even felt kind of bad for taking up their time, as if I'd wandered into the wrong department by mistake.

 

[Nick47]

I have some sympathy with ENT surgeons. They are asked to treat something that they cannot objectively measure. A patient may have mild tinnitus but severe mental health degradation. They may have severe tinnitus with less poor associated mental health. All they can see is an MRI, audiogram and TFI.

The game changer will be in a couple of years when the many objective tests currently in development get into the clinics. The Bionics Institute are quite far into development. This will allow the ENT to see if the patient has tinnitus and also indicate its severity. It will allow them to prioritise the severe cases and by trial and error they will quickly be able to establish how well existing treatments work.

 

[Tryn2BHopeful]

Getting in to see an ENT is a miracle on its own.

 

[ECP]

Getting in to see an ENT is a miracle on its own.

It's pretty exciting to get in after you've had to wait for three or four months. I just wish it weren't so anticlimactic.

It's like "we're off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz." At first, you're brimming with hope and optimism, but when you finally meet him, you find out that he can't really help you, and now you have no choice but to work with whatever tools you have at your disposal.

The difference is that Dorothy actually made it home, thanks to those ruby slippers. I don't think any of us have magic slippers that will instantly restore our health.

 

[Supersix]

My primary doctor had his nurse walk in one day to flush my ear. When I saw her holding the bottle, I freaked out and told them we are not proceeding with this. I won't even let water from a shower enter my ear.

I'm deaf in my right ear and have tinnitus in my good ear with a bad ETD and mild hearing loss. I have seen ENTs my entire life. There's nothing they can do.

 

[Nick47]

I'm deaf in my right ear and have tinnitus in my good ear with a bad ETD and mild hearing loss. I have seen ENTs my entire life. There's nothing they can do.

When you say deaf, what do you mean? Profound hearing loss (>90 dB) across all frequencies? Strange having tinnitus in the good ear, although if it really is in the brain, maybe.

 

[Supersix]

When you say deaf, what do you mean? Profound hearing loss (>90 dB) across all frequencies? Strange having tinnitus in the good ear, although if it really is in the brain, maybe.

Yes, profound hearing loss since I was a baby.

 

[Nick47]

Yes, profound hearing loss since I was a baby.

Can you get a cochlear implant?

 

[Supersix]

Can you get a cochlear implant?

I don't want to mess with that at my age. It might give me tinnitus in my bad ear.

 

[Tryn2BHopeful]

So I visited the ENT today. I had a hearing and pressure test. They looked up my nose, in my ears and down my throat...

"We can't find anything wrong with you."

My hearing test was good, only tested up to 8 kHz, and all the other tests were perfectly normal... I can't say I am surprised...

I was given a couple of printed pages on what tinnitus was and what causes it... A brochure for Arches Tinnitus Formula, a phone number for a tinnitus clinic, and a follow up in a year.

I guess my reaction is neutral, I didn't go into it expecting much.