Tinnitus Awareness Week
Tinnitus can have a huge impact, but behind every story lies resilience, humor, and the power of hearing – in the broadest sense of the word.
During this Tinnitus Awareness Week 2025, I will share a special encounter from my tinnitus clinic every day. Stories that show how audiology and psychology come together and how people, young and old, find their way in the world of sound. Stories that move me both as a person and as a professional. There are many more, but these are the ones I definitely want to share with you.
Today, I’d like to start with the story of Ty.
A 14-year-old boy walks into my clinic:
"I'm the father of Ty, and this is his sister," he says, pointing at his mom.
With a big smile, he takes a seat.
I burst out laughing and think: This is going to be a fun conversation!
A cool 14-year-old, with the world at his feet. Super smart and curious. He has significant hearing loss in both ears—without his hearing aids, he understands only 30% of speech in a normal conversation. But with his "earpieces," as he calls them, he hears 100% and follows everything effortlessly.
But his greatest strength lies in his interaction, his curiosity, and his ability to have an engaging conversation.
Hearing is more than just the ears!
Ty went through a period of severe tinnitus distress. Together with his mother, he is now working through step one of our tinnitus treatment designed especially for children. Providing explanations, offering insights, helping him understand the how and why.
Our conversation flows effortlessly. Ty asks incredibly smart questions, already knows a lot, but is still missing the bigger picture. I help him connect the dots.
Along the way, he cracks two fantastic jokes:
"Sir, do you know what you call a couple in love sitting on a couch?"
"What is the grossest band in the world?"
Hilarious answers. Think about them for a second. I’ll reveal them at the end.
But what makes this conversation truly special is Ty himself. He is so captivated by everything I tell him that he decides to give a presentation about it at school, for his friends and classmates. His eyes sparkle with excitement.
At the end of our session, he gets up, looks at his mom, and says:
"Too bad you’re only supposed to tip waiters." He nods at me.
I laugh and say, "Ty, having such a great conversation with you is already worth a lot to me! Keep that in mind!"
A follow-up appointment is scheduled, with his dad and sister joining next time. As part of step one, we usually hold a tinnitus information session, but for children, we do this just with the parents.
"My sister is obviously welcome, but the cat has to stay home—even though she really wants to come, too!"
As he reaches the door, he turns around and calls out:
"I’ll bring you muffins next time to say thanks! Or would you prefer pie?"
"Muffins are awesome!" I reply.
With a big grin, Ty walks out, as cool as ever.
How special a conversation can be.
Once again, the power of audiology is so clear to me. What many take for granted isn’t always so for others. But thankfully, audiological care can make a world of difference.
And the answers:
Love seat!
ABBAAAHHH!
For privacy reasons, his name and age have been changed.
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