Tinnitus Care

Comprehensive care for tinnitus

People with tinnitus perceive a ringing, buzzing or humming sound in one or both ears or the head. Tinnitus affects millions of people. For some, the symptom is linked to depression, anxiety, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating.

If you're experiencing tinnitus, the first step is to see an otologist (ear specialist) for diagnostic testing. You can get expert otology care at UCSF Health.

An otologist can do a thorough evaluation to look for any underlying condition that can cause tinnitus. The evaluation may include:

• A physical exam

• Imaging tests to look for any benign (noncancerous) growths

• Lab tests to check for vascular, kidney and autoimmune disorders

Tinnitus treatment

If an underlying cause for your tinnitus symptoms is found, it may be possible to treat it. If no treatable cause is found, our tinnitus care program can help.

Knowledgeable audiologists offer a range of therapies that can ease tinnitus symptoms. These include:

• Lifestyle changes

• Biofeedback, stress management techniques and psychotherapy

• Tinnitus retraining therapy

• Acoustic therapy

• Amplification with hearing aids

At your appointment, the audiologist will review your options for managing tinnitus, including the pros and cons of each.

Make an appointment

To begin the appointment process, please complete the tinnitus new patient form. Fax or mail the form and your audiology records to UCSF Audiology.

Once we've reviewed your form and records, we contact you to schedule an appointment. When making your appointment, let us know if you haven't had an audiological evaluation in the past six months so we can allow enough time to perform one. 

Insurance coverage

Please note that health insurance may not cover the cost of tinnitus counseling and management. The fee for the initial session is about $300. Follow-up counseling ranges from $100 to $200 per visit.

Some tinnitus-related tests may be covered, depending on your insurance plan. Before undergoing any of these tests, be sure to receive written pre-authorization from your insurance company. More information on the tests we may recommend — as well as the CPT codes you'll need to get pre-authorization — is available on our new patient form.

If your insurance company does not cover a particular test, or if you haven't obtained pre-authorization for it, you'll be asked to pay for the test in full at the time of your appointment.