Q What should I prepare before a Korean medicine consultation for tinnitus to make the examination more accurate?
A If you organize the character of the tinnitus sound (pitch, one or both ears), when it worsens, whether it is accompanied by hearing changes or dizziness, a list of your medications, and any hearing test results, it makes designing the diagnosis and treatment direction much faster.
Detailed Answer
It helps to note the following before a tinnitus consultation. (1) When the tinnitus first started and the trigger (noise exposure, stress, fever, etc.). (2) The pitch of the sound, whether it is in one or both ears, and whether it is continuous or intermittent. (3) In what situations (quiet times, stress, fatigue) it worsens. (4) Whether it is accompanied by hearing loss, ear fullness, or dizziness. (5) A list of your current medications (including ototoxic drugs). (6) Any pure-tone audiometry, ENT findings, or MRI results you have received. The more complete this information is, the more accurate the diagnosis can be at the first consultation.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In particular, if you write down whether the tinnitus decreases with rest and grows with fatigue (Kidney-Deficiency type), reacts to stress or emotional stimulation (Liver-Fire type), or feels heavy in the morning (Phlegm-Fire type), the diagnosis becomes much faster. Based on this advance information, Dongjedang considers it important to precisely establish the prescription and acupuncture-point composition at the first consultation.
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