Should I Get Audiological Testing and Treatment?

[AmericanJosh]

Ok, so I got tinnitus about a month ago from noise exposure (loud work on my home). It drove me nuts but with the help of this site and others, I learned to tune it out and about habituation. In reality, I rarely hear it most of the time and when I do it isn't really a bother. I had some outer canal ear cramping for several days, but that seems to have subsided. I am not sensitive to sounds yet I do protect my ears again as many loud noises as I can. Even when I am exposed to some incidentally, like the dentist's drill, car horns, even my home smoke alarm chirping, I have had no impact from them.

I previously schedule additional testing at a medical college's tinnitus and hyperacusis clinic. I already saw an ENT and had a regular audiogram done (no hearing loss on this one). The clinic will likely do LDL, emissions, and full range hearing testing (past 8 kHz).

The question is this: since I am doing well should I even go for the testing? Even with these results, I don't think it will impact my course of treatment, etc. So it will be testing for testing sake with no actionable outcomes. Thoughts?

 

[GregCA]

Every test comes with a risk/reward proposition. If no test is likely to change the course of action, then you are wise to question whether there is an upside in doing it. I think you already know what you want to do...

 

[AmericanJosh]

Every test comes with a risk/reward proposition. If no test is likely to change the course of action, then you are wise to question whether there is an upside in doing it. I think you already know what you want to do...

I do... but I wanted some advice from those who've been through this already.

 

[GregCA]

I do... but I wanted some advice from those who've been through this already.

I haven't gone through that exact same case, but I follow the general rule highlighted in the previous message. For example, when I go check the evolution of my hearing loss due to otosclerosis, I ask them to skip the tympanometry test and just do Pure Tone Audiometry, because that's all the data I need.

If you can't find any upside, then what is the point of doing it?

 

[DingDong]

Hey all -

I am going to a new audiologist this week.

And these are the tests she is wanting to perform on me.

Extended high frequency audiometry, uncomfortable loudness levels, acoustic reflex decay, tinnitus loudness, pitch, and stimulus matching.

Do any of these tests pose a threat to worsening my tinnitus - even temporarily?

I have already asked to omit the uncomfortable loudness level test - as this really set me off the last time I did it.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on these tests.

Thank you.

 

[Poseidon65]

To be honest, if you know the cause of your tinnitus (i.e. noise exposure), none of these tests are going to make your situation better.

If you are already habituating after a month, then truthfully you are doing pretty well. It's also possible your tinnitus will fade further (maybe even to zero) over the next months to a year or two. My advice is just to hang out for now, and to stay away from anything loud.