Vicdeaf - Tinnitus Case Study
Case Study
Sandy – the builder with chronic tinnitus
Sandy is a 50 year old builder and manages a small construction company. He can’t remember a day over the past 20 years when he hasn’t heard a constant ringing sound in his ears. He had asked his GP about the tinnitus when it first started and was told he there was no treatment. The tinnitus often made it difficult for Sandy to get to sleep but it never used to bother him while he worked. Within the past 6 months, Sandy has found himself spending more time in the office and less on the building site. He has noticed that the tinnitus seems to be a lot worse. He has become short tempered and worries that this is putting a strain on the relationship with his wife.
When he saw an advertisement for Vicdeaf hearservice in The Herald Sun; he rang that day to make an appointment to discuss his tinnitus and learn how to manage it better.
At the initial session with the Speech Pathologist, Sandy’s reaction to the tinnitus was assessed. The Speech Pathologist asked questions about his general health, hearing and work. She referred him to an Audiologist and the test results indicated he had a mild- moderate noise induced hearing loss from years spent working with loud power tools.
Sandy’s Speech Pathologist recommended a program to assist him in managing his response to tinnitus. Finally he had the answers he had waited 20 years for. In the session he learnt about:
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What tinnitus is and how we become aware of it (ie.The neurophysiological based model)
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Potential aggravators of tinnitus
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Impact of hearing loss and the benefits of a hearing aid
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Management strategies (for example, sound enrichment, lifestyle management, appropriate use of distraction and the bennefits of relaxation)
Sandy started a tinnitus managment program, the aim of which was to facilitate the process of habituation. Sandy began to realise tht he was in control of the tinniuts and not the other way around. As part of his program, the audiologist who had tested Sandy's hearing then fitted him with fully digital hearing aids to manage the effect of hearing loss and to offer appropriate sound enrichment for managing the tinnitus.
At his one month review, Sandy’s reaction to the tinnitus had changed and he didn’t notice it as much. He said his sleeping had improved and he was now able to concentrate at work again. He was planning on taking his wife to New Zealand for their 30th wedding anniversary later in the year. His next appointment would be a 3 month review to monitor his progress.
To book a Tinnitus Management session please email: hearservice@vicdeaf.com.au