About Tinnitus
Frequently Asked Questions page 4
Questions about ATA Resources
| 1. | Where can I get help on tinnitus? |
| 2. | Your site says the ATA is a nonprofit. What does nonprofit mean? |
| 3. | Where else can I turn for answers? |
Go to Page 1 of the F.A.Q., General Questions About Tinnitus
Go to Page 2 of the F.A.Q., Tinnitus Prevention, Diagnosis, and Research
Go to Page 3 of the F.A.Q., Questions about Tinnitus Treatments
Answers
Where can I get help for tinnitus?
If you have tinnitus, your first step is to see an otolaryngologist (also called an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT). He or she will help you determine if your tinnitus is caused by a medical condition and if a medical treatment option is most appropriate. To find a physician near you, contact the American Tinnitus Association.
You may also want to see an audiologist, who can conduct hearing tests and prescribe non-medical treatments for your tinnitus, like masking or amplification. To find an audiologist near you, please contact ATA. Also, for suggestions on questions to ask a healthcare professional, click here.
For more help coping with your tinnitus, consider joining an ATA self-help group. Self-help groups are a wonderful resource for people with tinnitus and their family members, a place to share your experiences, ask your questions, and learning from others who have tinnitus. Many groups bring in outside speakers to discuss tinnitus treatments, coping skills, and success stories. Other groups have libraries of information available for borrowing and newsletters with helpful hints. Self-help groups incorporate compassionate support with meaningful suggestions to help you manage your tinnitus.
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Your site says the ATA is a nonprofit. What does nonprofit mean?
The American Tinnitus Association is a tax-exempt organization under guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service. All money collected by the organization is used to further the ATA mission and goals, unlike a corporation, which pays out profits to its shareholders.
This also means that donations to the ATA are tax-deductible. The individuals who so generously give to the organization get to claim their donations on their year-end taxes. The ATA's budget comes from these individuals, from corporations who match employee gifts, and from foundations. Occasionally, the organization will host a special event, with donated goods and services, to help raise money.
The American Tinnitus Association is a member of the National Health Council, an association of health organizations that serve the general public. The National Health Council, in a partnership with the Wise Giving Alliance (a division of the Better Business Bureau), has developed Good Operating Practices - standards covering, among other things, how a nonprofit organization operates, raises funds, tracks and spends donations, and elects a board. The American Tinnitus Association is in full compliance with all mandatory and non-mandatory standards outlined in the Good Operating Practices, which, as the National Health Council writes, "ensure[s] the highest standards of efficiency and integrity." ATA is proud to be a member of the National Health Council and even prouder of providing our constituents with services and resources that make a difference.
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Where else can I turn for answers?
The American Tinnitus Association's friendly staff answers questions from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Pacific time) Mondays through Fridays. Call (800) 634-8978. In addition, Dr. Jack Vernon, one of the nation's most knowledgeable tinnitus experts, answers patient questions on tinnitus. Contact Dr. Vernon on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) at (503) 494-2187.
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