​Our Mission: Coastal Audiology is dedicated to offering families improved quality of life through  comprehensive and individualized hearing healthcare. 

912-748-9494 Phone

hello@coastalaudiology.com

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Tinnitus

​​Tinnitus is a symptom, not a disease. 



Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external sound source. People who report tinnitus (numbers estimate approximately 50 million Americans have it) describe it generally as a ringing, buzzing, or humming sound. Others describe their tinnitus as a high pitch squeal, a mosquito buzzing, cicadas, and/or static "like a radio that's not quite on the station". However one describes the noise they perceive, it all falls under the umbrella of tinnitus. 

If you have tinnitus, you have likely been told:


                    "There isn't anything you can do about it."
                    "You'll have to learn to live with it." 
                    "There's no cure."
                    "I have tinnitus too and it doesn't bother me."
                    "You have to learn to ignore it."

Your PCP (primary care physician) may have prescribed anti-anxiety or anti-depression medications to help you cope with the tinnitus. You may have been referred to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) physician who told you one of the statements above. While it is true there is no official "cure" for tinnitus, there is hope. 

At Coastal Audiology, we want to help you understand your tinnitus, what the cause may be, and offer solutions and strategies. This is done through a variety of approaches including but not limited to: 

• ​An opportunity for you to tell your Audiologist how and when your tinnitus began,
• An opportunity to describe how your tinnitus impacts your life,
• Tinnitus questionnaires and scales to determine your perception of the impact of your tinnitus, 
• Discussion of full health history including medications, medical conditions, diet, and lifestyle,
• Comprehensive audiologic evaluation including immittance
• Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs),
• Tinnitus examination which includes pitch matching, loudness matching, minimum masking level, and loudness discomfort levels (LDLs)

Once we have evaluated your tinnitus, we will offer a plan of care for how to manage your tinnitus, including but not limited to:

• Sound (acoustic) therapy including apps, hearing aids, maskers, or combination devices when warranted,
• Counseling regarding the mechanism producing the tinnitus,
• Journaling
• ​Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) by a licensed counselor,
• Adjustment-Based Counseling by our Audiologists
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction like yoga and meditation
• Support Groups for discussion with others who experience tinnitus,
• Sleep Hygiene recommendations
• Nutrition & diet counseling and/or referral to a nutritionist
• Referrals to dentist/TMJ specialist when warranted. 

​Not every person who experiences tinnitus needs significant counseling for their tinnitus. It is important to not give up hope that there is relief for your tinnitus. We look forward to working with you. If you wish to schedule an appointment, we ask that you reserve 90 minutes for your initial evaluation. Appointments can be made by calling our office during normal business hours and letting our PCC you wish to schedule a tinnitus evaluation. You may also print and complete our intake paperwork online by clicking the Forms tab above. If you prefer, we can send you a link to complete the majority of your intake online. Please note, if you do complete your intake prior to your appointment online, there are additional tinnitus surveys that we will ask you to complete when you arrive, so please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before your designated appointment time so we may utilize the entire length of your appointment with you. 

As tempting as it is to Google symptoms, we strongly recommend you do not. There are many reasons for tinnitus and the internet is full of chat rooms and message boards with many individuals who are not handling their tinnitus well. That is understandable. But just because their tinnitus is caused by one thing, it does not mean yours is caused by the same thing. A thorough evaluation with an Audiologist that understands the mechanism behind tinnitus is your first step. 

Coastal Audiology, Inc.
410 SW US Highway 80    
Pooler, GA 31322
(912) 748-9494 Phone
(912)748-9495 Fax
www.coastalaudiology.com