The Evanston Audiology Service at Northwestern University offers complete clinical tinnitus evaluation/consultation for patients with persistent tinnitus (longer than 6 months).   Participants must have been evaluated by an otologist and may not be involved in litigation regarding the tinnitus.

Tinnitus evaluation and consultation includes:

• comprehensive audiometric testing
• tympanometry
• acoustic reflex testing
• otoacoustic emissions testing 
• tinnitus pitch and loudness matching
• tinnitus minimal masking level assessment
• loudness discomfort level assessment
• tinnitus counseling

The initial visit takes about 3 hours and the audiologist and patient will decide together if further tinnitus treatment is warranted. If so, two forms of therapy are offered at Northwestern: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) and Neuromonics.   For more information about tinnitus evaluation and consultation at Northwestern, please contact Dr. Lowery Mayo, l-mayo@northwestern.edu.

TRT is based on work by Pawel Jastreboff, PhD.  It is a widely accepted therapy for tinnitus management. It is based on a neurophysiologic model and focuses greatly on directive counseling and sound therapy.  For more information about Tinnitus Retraining therapy, go to:  www.tinnitus-pjj.com.

Neuromonics is a newer type of treatment used widely in Australia. This method also relies on sound therapy and reducing the “emotional connection” to tinnitus.  For more information about Neuromonics, go to:  www.neuromonics.com