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Measuring Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a subjective symptom, which can make it difficult to describe, quantify, and diagnose. However, a properly trained audiologist has the tools to measure the quality of your tinnitus as well as find the underlying causes.
In order to measure your tinnitus an audiologist will first give you a complete audiological examination. This includes visual inspection of the inner ear, testing the health of the hearing system, and a hearing test to determine if there is any loss. Then specifically to zero in on the quality and degree of tinnitus the following tests are typically employed and are key in determining a treatment approach:
Pitch Matching Test - this test helps to determine the perception of tinnitus that the patient is suffering from by listening and matching the pitch.
Loudness Matching Test - this test helps to determine the perception of how loud the tinnitus is that the patient is suffering from.
Loudness Sensitivity Test - this test helps to determine the loudest noise a patient can tolerate without feeling discomfort.
Maskability and Inhibition Test- testing for maskability lets us know to what degree the tinnitus perception can be covered or “masked” by another sound. Inhibition measures how long the perception is reduced when the mask is removed.
Why Should You See Dr. Wikoff?
Dr. Wikoff has been successfully diagnosing and treating tinnitus for 10 years. She has dedicated her life to the study and care of hearing. She holds an undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Maryland. She also received her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine’s Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences. Additionally Dr. Wikoff is on the board of directors at the American Tinnitus Association. She has attended multiple courses and workshops specifically on tinnitus, including the International Tinnitus Research Initiative in Valencia, Spain. She is a trained in Neuromonics, received the American Academy of Audiology Scholar Award 2014 - 2015, and she is a member of the Tinnitus Practitioners Association.
If you are in the metro-Atlanta area and are suffering from tinnitus, don't wait any longer to call Peachtree Hearing and see Dr. Wikoff.
