Understanding Tinnitus: An Introductory Workshop
- John Cochary
- Jul 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Tinnitus Video with Dr. Calandrillo, AuD, CCC-A
If you missed last month’s CHC webinar, Understanding Tinnitus: An Introductory Workshop, you can now watch the full video recording.
Presented by Michele DiStefano, AuD, CCC-A, CHC’s Director of Audiology, and Dominique Calandrillo, AuD, CCC-A, tinnitus specialist, this informative session offers valuable insights into the causes of tinnitus and evidence-based strategies for managing its symptoms.
The first half of the video is a lecture about the mechanism of tinnitus and the options available for treating the condition. The second half (beginning at approximately 32 minutes) offers answers to participant-generated questions. Note that you'll find more FAQs in the lower part of this page.
View Understanding Tinnitus with Expert Dominique Calandrillo
CHC's Tinnitus Services
To schedule a tinnitus or hyperacusis consultation at the Center for Hearing and Communication in New York, contact us today at 917-305-7766 or use the button below. The consultation, which includes a hearing test, is covered by most private and government insurance plans.
You'll benefit from the unique expertise of our specially trained audiologists. They'll assess your condition and offer tools and techniques to help you manage your symptoms, with appropriate follow-up. Any follow-up sessions can be done remotely.
Answers to Your Tinnitus Questions
Due to time constraints, we weren’t able to address every question submitted during the webinar. Scroll down to see Dr. Calandrillo's answers to those unaddressed questions (organized by topic). Should you have a question that we haven't addressed here, please submit it to us through our Ask the Experts form.
Tinnitus Symptoms
Q: Is it possible to have tinnitus that produces completely different sounds at different times?
DC: Yes, tinnitus may fluctuate in volume and/or sound quality.
Q: Is it normal for young people to experience tinnitus?
DC: About ~10 percent of young adults experience chronic tinnitus. Children may also experience tinnitus at some point in their life; however, the prevalence ranges from 6-~42%, including children with normal hearing and hearing loss. It often goes undetected in children.
Tinnitus Causes
Q: I ground my teeth for years. Do you think that caused me to have tinnitus?
DC: There is an association between teeth grinding (bruxism) and tinnitus. Teeth grinding may also affect the temporomandibular joint, which also has a relationship with presence of tinnitus. If you are experiencing these symptoms, your care team may include a dentist as well as ENT and audiology.
Q: Can stroke increase tinnitus?
DC: There is an association between tinnitus and stroke due to disruption in blood flow and oxygen deprivation. If there is a significant restriction of blood flow, then it is possible tinnitus may heighten. Additionally, pulsatile tinnitus can be related to vascular abnormalities, which may contribute to stroke risk. This is why it is important to see a medical professional if you are experiencing tinnitus that sounds like a heartbeat.
Q: Have you seen a spike in number of cases reported since COVID-19?
DC: A 2020 study by Beukes et al. found that having COVID-19 symptoms exacerbated tinnitus in 40%, made no change in 54% and improved tinnitus in 6%. Out of ~3000 participants, less than 1% reported that COVID-19 initiated tinnitus.
Another study by Xia et al. in 2021 showed that anxiety associated with COVID-19 was linked to an increase in tinnitus.
Q: Would cervical spine misalignment cause it?
DC: Cervical issues can be linked to tinnitus. We call this cervicogenic tinnitus. The cervical spine contains nerves that travel up to the brainstem as well as the auditory pathways. Cervical spine disorders can create changes within these pathways.
Q: Is tinnitus genetic?
DC: Tinnitus is associated with many underlying conditions that can be hereditary, such as hearing loss.
Q: I previously had a concussion, could this be related?
DC: Yes, tinnitus can have an association with mild traumatic brain injury or concussion. Other symptoms may include dizziness, trouble hearing or distinguishing words in noisy environments, or decreased sound tolerance. These symptoms may lessen over time, while others may remain. It is important to determine if there is any permanent change to hearing following head trauma.
Q: If dental drilling, extraction, or implant worsens tinnitus - is that a temporary worsening?
DC: Dental work is not a direct cause of tinnitus. However, in some cases, dental work can exacerbate tinnitus. This is usually temporary and subsides once the procedure is over, area has healed, and/or jaw issues are managed.
Q: When I take my hearing aids off, why does my tinnitus spike for several hours.
DC: Hearing aids provide stimulation to the auditory system (see question below regarding hearing aid benefits). When the hearing aids are removed, the brain’s access to sensory information becomes reduced. This lack of sensory input can make tinnitus more noticeable. Using an external sound machine at night can help reduce tinnitus symptoms while hearing aids are out.
Q: What part of the brain produces the tinnitus?
A: The source of tinnitus stems from the cochlea, or the hearing organ, as well as neural activity within the auditory pathways. This is housed in the temporal lobe of the brain. However, the perception of bothersome tinnitus includes other
systems including the limbic and autonomic nervous systems.
Q: Does frequent wax build up make tinnitus worse?
DC: Yes, if there is excessive build-up of wax or a complete blockage from wax, tinnitus may occur. Once that wax is removed, tinnitus tends to lessen.
Tinnitus Treatment
Q: Does the root cause of tinnitus affect treatment success?
DC: The root cause of tinnitus does not have affect on the success of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). TRT can be used to treat bothersome tinnitus with various causes. However, if there is an underlying health issue, it is important that this is managed as well.
Q: I have heard about ozone insufflation as a treatment. What do you know about this?
DC: Ozone insufflation or ozone therapy involves injecting an ozone gas into the body. There is not enough research or evidence to suggest that this is a safe and effective treatment for tinnitus. I do not recommend this.
Q: How do hearing aids help overcome tinnitus?
DC: Hearing aids help to stimulate the auditory system and provide gain to improve access to speech and environmental sound. By providing adequate stimulation to the auditory system, the brain does not have to compensate for missing information, therefore reducing tinnitus. It also acts as a form of sound therapy by amplifying sound. This keeps the mind busy and makes it harder for the brain to focus on, or point out, tinnitus.
Q: Does red light therapy help?
DC: There is not enough research on this topic to suggest it is an effective treatment.
Q: Does Lenire therapy mitigate tinnitus symptoms?
DC: Lenire is a new treatment option for tinnitus that uses stimulation to both the auditory pathway and the somatosensory pathway. It includes the use of daily sound therapy under headphones with electrical tongue stimulation. It is showing positive results in improving tinnitus symptoms.
Q: What are the most promising newer treatment modalities?
DC: Tinnitus retraining therapy still remains the gold standard for tinnitus treatment; however there are some new treatments such as Lenire that are showing good results.
Q: How do I make the screaming in my brain stop?
DC: If you are experiencing moderate to severe tinnitus, know that you are not alone and there are successful treatments in mitigating tinnitus symptoms. We offer a 15-minute phone call to discuss concerns and create a treatment plan.
About Audiologist Dominique Calandrillo
Dominique Calandrillo, AuD, CCC-A, provides comprehensive audiological care (conducted in English or ASL) to adults and children of all hearing abilities. With a clinical background that includes private practice, hospital and ENT settings, Dr. Calandrillo, has extensive expertise in hearing evaluations and the latest digital hearing technology. Additionally, she specializes in the evaluation and treatment of tinnitus. Having studied under renowned tinnitus expert Dr. Pawel Jastreboff, Dr. Calandrillo has expertise in the management of tinnitus and hyperacusis symptoms, including Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. She holds a Doctor of Audiology from Gallaudet University where she was recognized with the Excellence in Audiology Award.
