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Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about your hearing? We’ve got clear, simple answers to help you feel informed and confident.
What are the common signs of hearing loss?
Some of the most common signs include:
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
- Turning up the TV or radio louder than others prefer
- Difficulty following conversations, especially in noisy environments
- Feeling like people are mumbling
- Avoiding social situations due to hearing difficulties
If you notice any of these signs, it's a good idea to schedule a hearing assessment.
What causes hearing loss?
Hearing loss can result from a variety of factors, including:
- Age-related hearing degeneration (presbycusis)
- Prolonged exposure to loud noise
- Ear infections or blockages like earwax buildup
- Certain medications that can damage hearing (ototoxic drugs)
- Head injuries or genetic conditions
An audiologist can help determine the specific cause in your case.
How is hearing loss diagnosed?
An audiologist will perform a comprehensive hearing evaluation, which may include:
- A review of your medical and hearing history
- Physical examination of the ears
- Pure-tone testing to measure what sounds you can hear
- Speech testing to assess how well you understand words
- Tympanometry to evaluate middle ear function
This assessment helps us tailor a treatment plan specific to your needs.
Are hearing aids the only treatment for hearing loss?
Not always. Treatment depends on the type and severity of hearing loss. In some cases, medical treatment or surgery can address the issue.
However, for most forms of sensorineural hearing loss (the most common type), hearing aids are the most effective solution.
Modern hearing aids are discreet, highly customizable, and designed to improve quality of life. Your audiologist will guide you through the best options.
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound—such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking—in the ears or head when no external sound is present. It's not a condition itself but a symptom of an underlying issue.
What is Tinnitus Therapy?
Tinnitus Therapy, delivered in the form of cognitive behavioural therapy is designed to alleviate tinnitus distress by decreasing the attention paid to tinnitus. This is achieved by reducing emotional and/or behavioral responses to it and thus, over time minimizing its impact on your life.Tinnitus Therapy provides a supportive and non-judgemental environment so you can discuss your experience living with tinnitus.
Guided by the therapist, you will develop an understanding of your reaction to tinnitus, as well as the development of techniques to change thought processes, behaviours, and feelings related to it.
Why should I try Tinnitus Therapy?
We recognize that everyone’s experience of tinnitus is different. Tinnitus is a complex condition which affects the emotional, attentional, and behavioural centers of the brain.
Tinnitus Therapy helps people with bothersome tinnitus improve their quality of life by decreasing the day-to-day stress it causes by reducing the attention paid to it.
Over the course of therapy, you will receive resources and tools to practice during and outside of sessions. These recourses form a toolbox that you can refer to as required outside of therapy should your tinnitus become bothersome. Tinnitus Therapy is a short-term treatment with long term benefits, tailored specifically to you.
Is Tinnitus Therapy Suitable for Me?
Your Initial tinnitus assessment will determine if Tinnitus Therapy is a suitable treatment option for you or if another treatment is recommended. You can choose your Initial Tinnitus Assessment In-Clinic or through our online booking system.
How can hearing aids help with tinnitus?
People with hearing loss and tinnitus often report relief from the use of hearing aids. Hearing aids work by amplifying external surrounding sounds, resulting in the reduction of an individual’s perception of tinnitus. Overtime, the tinnitus becomes less intrusive and less bothersome.
How do I know if hearing aids are a suitable treatment option for me?
Your initial assessment will determine if hearing aids are a suitable treatment option for you or if another treatment is recommended.
What is Lenire?
The Lenire device delivers mild electrical pulses to the tongue combined with sound played through headphones to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.
The device is used as part of a treatment plan prescribed specifically for you and supervised by our team.
Headphones
Customised sounds are played through Bluetooth® headphones to activate the auditory nerve .
Tonguetip
Mild and safe energy pulses are delivered to the surface of the tip of the tongue to activate nerves to the brain.
The Lenire Controller
A lightweight, handheld device that controls the time and intensity of the treatment.
Visit Lenire.com for more information
What is sound intolerance?
Sound intolerance refers to an abnormal sensitivity or emotional reaction to everyday sounds that most people find tolerable. The two most common types are:
Hyperacusis: heightened sensitivity to sound, causing discomfort or pain.
Misophonia: strong emotional reactions like anger or anxiety to specific trigger sounds (e.g., chewing, tapping).
If you find normal sounds overwhelming or distressing, a professional evaluation can help determine the cause and best course of action.
What causes sound intolerance?
There are several potential causes, including:
- Noise-induced hearing damage
- Neurological conditions or brain injury
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disordersAnxiety, PTSD, or other emotional health factors
- Ear infections or other ear disorders
In some cases, sound intolerance is linked to other hearing issues, so a full hearing evaluation is essential
How is sound intolerance diagnosed?
Diagnosis typically involves:
- A thorough case history and symptom discussion
- Hearing tests to rule out hearing loss or damage
- Sound tolerance testing (such as Loudness Discomfort Level testing)
- Assessment of psychological or emotional responses to sound
Our clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach to ensure an accurate diagnosis and personalized care plan.
Can sound intolerance be treated?
Yes, sound intolerance can often be managed with the right strategies, such as:
- Sound therapy to gradually desensitize the ears
- Counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address emotional reactions
- Use of hearing devices with sound generators
- Lifestyle adjustments and coping techniques
Treatment is highly individualized and may involve both audiological and psychological support.
