New initiatives focus on the importance of assessment and dialogue when helping tinnitus patients.
Schaumburg, IL - October 2014 – Audiology Systems, a full-service, U.S. distributor of GN Otometrics products such as AURICAL®, MADSEN® and ICS®, as well as other leading audiology and vestibular equipment, announced today a series of new initiatives to spotlight better tinnitus management.
October is National Audiology Awareness Month initiated by the American Academy of Audiology. To support this initiative, beginning October 1, 2014, Audiology Systems – in close collaboration with Otometrics – will launch a series of reference materials and training to assist audiologists and other hearing care professionals who are interested in adding tinnitus treatment to their practice.
Tinnitus – a growing need for specialized care
The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) estimates that 50 million people in the United States experience tinnitus to some degree, and of these, about 16 million have it severe enough to seek medical attention. Two million patients are so seriously debilitated that they cannot function on a "normal," day-to-day basis. In short, tinnitus is a growing problem and patients with tinnitus symptoms present unique challenges for hearing care professionals.
“Tinnitus symptoms vary widely, and it is not always easy to interpret the severity of the tinnitus,” says Wendy Switalski, Au.D., Audiology Development Manager from Audiology Systems. “While there are methods for reducing the symptoms of tinnitus, there is in fact no cure-all for tinnitus today. This can make it difficult to know where to begin when a tinnitus patient walks in the audiologist’s clinic. We are excited to work with Otometrics to help our customers by creating awareness among hearing care professionals about the importance of assessment and dialogue in tinnitus management.”
Assessment and dialogue – key components in successful tinnitus management
While there is no cure for tinnitus, a hearing aid can help to manage the symptoms. However, a hearing aid is only part of the answer. Successful management of tinnitus symptoms also depends on the fitting of the hearing aid – as well as understanding the effect the tinnitus has on the patient’s daily life. A tinnitus assessment and targeted dialogue is the first step.
“Assessment and dialogue play a crucial role in managing tinnitus,” says Clément Sanchez, Au.D., Product Manager at GN Otometrics. “With an assessment, the person with tinnitus can see it illustrated and quantified on an audiogram. The clinician can then use the audiogram as a starting point for dialogue, determining the need for a hearing aid or masking, and as a base line for further assessments.”
Also important when evaluating a patient with tinnitus symptoms, is having insight into the psychoacoustic elements of the tinnitus and the effect it has on the patient’s daily life. Questionnaires using the THI, THS, and TFI standards can help.
“A tool such as the Astera2 is ideal for clinicians who want to help the tinnitus patient,” says Sanchez. “It has a dedicated tinnitus module that enables the professional to assess their patient’s tinnitus and the effect it has on their daily life. Clinicians make the tinnitus assessment directly from their audiometer. All the patient data and information is accessible from one place, making it easier to create a treatment plan and monitor the patient’s tinnitus over time.”
MADSEN Astera2 – the first audiometer with an integrated tinnitus module
The MADSEN Astera2 audiometer from Otometrics has a dedicated tinnitus evaluation module that includes psychoacoustics tests (pitch, maskability, residual inhibition, etc.) and physiological questionnaires (THI, TFI, etc.) giving users a clearer picture of the patient’s tinnitus and a better starting point for the tinnitus management strategy. The questionnaires are integrated in the workflow and the results are stored for easy comparison of results over time, making it easier to see if the tinnitus symptoms has worsened or improved and make adjustments in treatment accordingly.
Advocating for public awareness
Audiology Systems is a bronze corporate member of the American Tinnitus Association (ATA). Read about the ATA and their year-long initiatives at: www.ata.org
Audiology Systems supports an annual campaign led by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). Read more about AAA’s initiative at: www.audiology.org.
For more information about Audiology Systems’ tinnitus campaign activities and to access reference materials and available training, visit www.audiologysystems.com/tinnitus or call (855) 283-7978.
About Audiology Systems
Audiology Systems is a new, national partnership of industry professionals, audiologists, local instrument experts and Otometrics. The company provides fast and direct access to advanced equipment from leading manufacturers, such as Intelligent Hearing Systems (IHS) and Otometrics, with MADSEN, AURICAL and ICS. Audiology Systems was founded with a clear vision: to elevate customer care through increased professionalism, consultative dialogue and accessibility to customers. Visit www.audiologysystems.com or the Otometrics/Audiology Systems Expo Page on AudiologyOnline for more information.
