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What is tinnitus?

The word tinnitus comes from the Latin word for ringing.

It is the perception of sound in the absence of any similar external sound. It may be difficult to ascertain where the sound is coming from, it could be in one or both ears or perceived in the head.

The sound will vary from person to person; sounds may include;

• Ringing, buzzing, hissing, whooshing, musical or any other sound type.
• It may be low, medium or high frequency and it may vary in volume. You may hear one noise, two noises or more.
• The sound may be there all the time or it may come and go.

Mild tinnitus is common; approximately 10% of the population have it all the time.

Tinnitus is rarely an indication of a serious disorder, but it is advisable to see your GP if you think you may have it. If it is appropriate your GP will refer you on to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist.

It is possible to be referred on to the audiology department from ENT. Audiology has a Tinnitus Clinic, advising on tinnitus management, utilising tinnitus management strategies, tinnitus retraining therapy, counselling and sound enrichment therapy.

ENT can also refer on for treatment for Hyperacusis.

Hyperacusis is a condition which gives a person abnormally acute hearing due to a heightened irritability of the sensory neural mechanism. This means that everyday noises can become unbearably or painfully loud. Sufferers can also experience inner ear pain or a feeling of pressure in the ears.

So what can you do to make your tinnitus less intrusive? 

Actually there are a number of things that may help. Please see the following presentation for further information and management options.  Alternately, please see the BTA website on the further information page.

Access our Welcome to The Tinnitus Clinic presentation

Find out more information through Tinnitus UK

Tinnitus Clinic

If you think that you need more help than the above information can provide, such as tinnitus retraining therapy, have a chat to your GP or Ear, Nose and Throat consultant about being referred to our audiology tinnitus clinic.

What to expect from an appointment with one of our Countywide Tinnitus Specialists?

• Discuss the impacts of your tinnitus
• A discussion about your hearing and the mechanisms of tinnitus.
• An explanation of how you can manage your tinnitus using tinnitus management strategies, this may include ways to reduce stress, use of sound therapy, hearing aids or tinnitus devices (if appropriate) and sleep management.
• The fitting of a digital hearing aid and/or combination device as part of sound therapy if appropriate.
• You will be given information literature to take away and you will be offered a follow up to assess your progress.

Further Information

British Tinnitus Association

Website- www.tinnitus.org.uk

Email- info@tinnitus.org.uk or helpline@tinnitus.org.uk

Contact number- 0800 018 0527

Take on Tinnitus Link- www.takeontinnitus.co.uk

Tinnitus groups- https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/online-support-groups

BTA Tinnitus Care Decision Aid

https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/decision-aid

Hyperacusis

www.hyperacusis.net

Self-referral to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies- (IAPT)

www.england.nhs.uk