Dr Ted Venema, PhD, F-AAA
Tinnitus is a prevalent symptom reported by many clients who come to see us. It is treated, however, in a
way that is much like allergies are treated by physicians. As clinicians, we often feel as helpless as the
clients who ask us for help. Unlike signs which can be seen, tinnitus is, for the most part, a subjectively
reported symptom. The only person who hears it is the client. The causes of tinnitus are not
straightforward, and the available “cures” for tinnitus are elusive. The most we can muster is the
hackneyed advice to avoid quiet and to put on a fan or air conditioner. While these suggestions are often
helpful, we can go somewhat further. The purpose of this seminar is to familiarize clinicians with tinnitus in
more detail. We will explore some of the causes of tinnitus, as well the actual intensity of most tinnitus as
it is experienced by many clients. It can be very helpful for clinicians to measure one’s tinnitus to
characterize it as closely as possible. This approach can serve to alleviate the fears of clients and show
them that we are professionals operating in the business of hearing health care. Treatments for tinnitus
fall into two main camps: masking and psychology. We will compare and contrast some of the masking
and psychological approaches to treating tinnitus today. Fortunately, one of the best treatments for
tinnitus is the use of hearing aids!
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