ENT doctors are physicians and know about the anatomy of the ear. They are able to treat it medically or surgically. They are not tinnitus experts. When there is no underlying medical problem causing the tinnitus, a patient should be referred to a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist for treatment and management. Many of these people also have tinnitus and understand it.
It’s unacceptable how little ENT doctors know about tinnitus and hyperacusis. Yes, there’s no cure but they should still be taught how to treat patients with those symptoms, e.g. what to say, what to recommend. What they’re being taught is not enough.
But I might be biased as I’ve had many horrible incidents with ENT doctors. One ENT doctor once told me that he would kill himself if he were to develop chronic tinnitus and then simply said to me I had to get used to it. So I partly agree with Michael but I wished they were taught more in school.
After reading about the tests they perform and how they can make patients worse, I am scared to death to see an ENT. The only thing worse than a doctor who does nothing is a doctor who does more harm.
I see no point in going to an ENT anymore after first/second opinion - the best they can do is tell you what caused your T but there's nothing they can do about it. Dentists are probably the only people who can actually treat T(If your cause is related to your jaw).
@Michael Leigh Your advice might be reasonable but ENT's don't often give that advice. I haven't seen one yet that offered any resources other than telling me there is no cure and nothing anyone can do about it which put me in a state of shock for months. There are unethically bad at there job although I'm sure even a broken clock is right twice a day
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