Canadian Academy of Audiology 17th Annual Conference

Knowing what to say and how to help patients find the right solution to manage tinnitus is a challenging area of audiologic practice, one that often requires more time and expertise than many of us feel able to provide. Patients turn to us for answers to their tinnitus questions: “Why do I hear this noise in my head? What pill can I take to stop it? Why did my physician tell me I need hearing aids when it’s the tinnitus that makes it hard to hear? And what about this treatment from Germany I read about?” We bring out our hearing instruments. Which one is best? How do we program hearing aids for tinnitus? Are hearing aids sufficient to manage tinnitus? What do I do if the patient has mental health issues? Acronyms float in our head: What about TRT? PTM? CBT? MBSR? Where do we send patients who need more than what we can offer? This pre-conference workshop will provide participants with an up-to-date review of the theoretical and clinical aspects of tinnitus care. Topics covered will include models of tinnitus mechanisms and generation, medical management of tinnitus, current and prospective treatment and management options, and the best practice guidelines based on current evidence and clinical experience. We will also discuss how best to direct patients to appropriate resources for funding and multidisciplinary care.