Tinnitus & Hearing Survey | UCSF EARS
Tool · Tinnitus + Hearing

Tinnitus & Hearing Survey

This quick tool helps you sort what’s driving your bother right now: tinnitus, hearing difficulty, sound sensitivity, or a mix. You’ll get a short next-steps plan with direct deep links to the exact section to read next.

About 2 minutes Designed for phones Deep links to next steps

Educational only (not a diagnosis). If you have sudden hearing loss, a new heartbeat/pulsing sound, severe dizziness, or new neurologic symptoms, use Emergency: when to get urgent care.

Answer three short sections

Think about your experience over the last week. Choose the option that fits best.

Section A
Tinnitus (ringing/buzzing)

Over the last week, how much of a problem was each of these?

1) Tinnitus kept me from sleeping.

2) Tinnitus kept me from concentrating.

3) Tinnitus made me feel terrible.

4) I could not get my mind off the tinnitus.

Section B
Hearing

Over the last week, how much of a problem was each of these?

1) I couldn’t understand what others were saying in noisy or group situations.

2) Sounds were too soft.

3) I had trouble understanding speech on TV or the phone.

4) I couldn’t understand what people were saying.

Section C
Sound tolerance

Over the last week, how much of a problem was each of these?

1) Sounds were too loud or uncomfortable when they seemed normal to others.

2) I avoided places/situations because sounds would be too loud or uncomfortable.

Sound sensitivity (hyperacusis) can overlap with tinnitus and hearing difficulty. Identifying it helps you choose safer next steps.