Do you hear a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound that no one else seems to hear? If so, you may be experiencing tinnitus. It's a common condition that can range from a minor annoyance to a serious distraction. While there is no simple cure, the first crucial step toward managing it is understanding its cause, and that journey starts with a comprehensive hearing test at Munk Hearing Centre, your dedicated hearing clinic in Toronto. Schedule your hearing test today.
How Hearing Tests Can Help Diagnose Tinnitus
Identifying Underlying Hearing Loss
The majority of tinnitus cases are closely linked to hearing loss. When you have a routine hearing examination, we precisely map your hearing sensitivity across different frequencies. In many instances, the pitch of your tinnitus directly corresponds to the frequencies where you have hearing loss. Identifying this underlying loss through an ear test doesn't just confirm a problem; it suggests that the brain is generating the phantom sound to compensate for the missing external input.
The Specialized Tinnitus Hearing Test
At our Toronto hearing clinic, diagnosing tinnitus goes beyond the standard audiogram. We perform a specialized tinnitus hearing test. This evaluation helps us characterize your unique experience:
Pitch Matching: We determine the exact frequency (pitch) of your tinnitus.
Loudness Matching: We measure how loud your tinnitus is compared to external sounds.
Minimum Masking Level: This shows the lowest level of external noise required to completely cover or mask your tinnitus.
Guiding Management and Treatment Options
A thorough hearing examination provides the foundational data needed to select the most effective management strategy for you. For many, treatment involves specialized hearing aids with built-in sound therapy or "notched" features.
If your ear test shows hearing loss, hearing aids can amplify external sounds, reducing the contrast between your environment and the internal tinnitus sound. Furthermore, sound therapy programs can introduce low-level noise to retrain your brain's reaction to the tinnitus. Knowing the exact frequency of your tinnitus, thanks to the specialized tinnitus hearing test, allows us to fine-tune these devices for maximum relief.
SCHEDULE A HEARING EVALUATION TODAY
If you are struggling with persistent ringing, don't wait. A hearing test is the first step toward diagnosis and relief. Contact Munk Hearing Centre today to schedule your comprehensive hearing test and specialized tinnitus consultation.