The typical workup for tinnitus patients includes a medical examination, an audiometric assessment, a tinnitus evaluation and finally management of the patient. The means of managing the patient can involve drug therapy, biofeedback or masking. However, regardless of the treatment of choice, most patients undergo, at least to some degree, parts of the three initial evaluations. Our task is to describe, in part, the use of the audiogram in managing the tinnitus patient.

The audiometric work-up for the tinnitus patient does not differ greatly from the typical audiometric assessment performed for diagnostic purposes or a hearing aid evaluation. This procedure includes pure tone testing (air conduction and bone conduction), impedance audiometry and speech testing. Special auditory tests are performed only when additional diagnostic information is indicated. The only major difference in the procedure involves presenting pressure through the probe tip without the accompanying probe tone. This gives the clinician an indication as to whether or not atmospheric pressure changes might affect the patient's tinnitus.