A whistling, hissing, or humming sound that won’t go away—tinnitus is distressing, but it’s easy to diagnose. We’ll identify the cause and severity and discuss effective conservative and device-based treatment options with you.
When do patients come to see us?
These are the symptoms we most commonly evaluate at our clinic:
Acute tinnitus (up to 3 months)
Sudden ringing in the ears—often associated with sudden hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, or stress. Prompt evaluation is essential in these cases.
Chronic tinnitus
Persistent tinnitus lasting more than three months — the focus is on determining the severity and improving quality of life.
Tinnitus with hearing loss
A common scenario—fitting a hearing aid often helps alleviate tinnitus. We assess this objectively.
Pulsating tinnitus
If the ringing in the ears is synchronized with the pulse—indicating a specific group of causes (vascular issues, tumors, pressure)—it requires specialized diagnostic testing.
Here's how the examination works at our clinic
A structured process from the initial consultation to a concrete treatment plan—you’ll always know what comes next.
Structured Initial Consultation
Characteristics of tinnitus, loudness, and severity assessment using a standardized questionnaire (Goebel/Hiller Tinnitus Questionnaire).
ENT Status and Audiometry
Tone audiogram, speech discrimination, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions—we are looking for treatable hearing impairments as the cause.
Tinnitus Matching
We determine the frequency and volume of your tinnitus by comparing it to test tones—which is important for planning your future treatment.
Treatment recommendation
Acute treatment (cortisone) for new-onset tinnitus, hearing aids with tinnitus relief features for combined hearing loss, counseling on tinnitus retraining therapy, and psychosomatic support.
Diagnostics and Methods
- Tinnitus Matching and Loudness AssessmentComparison of the tinnitus sound with calibrated test tones — objective measures for monitoring progress and planning treatment.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)Function of the outer hair cells — often pathologically altered in tinnitus; a highly sensitive measurement.
- Hearing aids with tinnitus maskingCombined treatment for hearing loss — many patients find that this makes their tinnitus significantly less bothersome.
- Tinnitus CounselingStructured counseling on managing tinnitus, sleep hygiene, and relaxation techniques; referral to tinnitus retraining therapy if necessary.