Taking control of tinnitus
Fast facts – tinnitus
- Around 10% of UK adults have tinnitus.
- The wear and tear of hearing loss can trigger tinnitus. It isn’t a disease or illness, but it is usually associated with changes in hearing.
- Although tinnitus can occur at any age, it’s more common in people over 65.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the term for hearing sounds that come from inside your body, rather than from an outside source. For some people it manifests as a ringing in the ears, for others it can be a buzzing or humming, roaring or clicking sound. When it’s unmanaged, tinnitus can stop you from concentrating properly or hearing clearly. It can affect your sleep and your ability to relax and can seriously impact your quality of life.
How do you treat tinnitus?
There’s currently no cure for tinnitus, but there is a lot you can do to take back control so that you’re calm, focused and relaxed.
Bridgitte Harley, from The Hearing Clinic, trained in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy under Jonathan Hazel, one of the pioneers of the treatment, and Jacqueline Sheldrake. She has also studied under Dr Lawrence McKenna in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy skills for audiologists. Both approaches are extremely helpful for reducing the stress associated with the condition.
Taming tinnitus, the Hearing Clinic way
We take a three-step approach to helping you to tame your tinnitus.
- We empower you to take control
Much of tinnitus management involves learning more about, and understanding, how the condition affects you so we can help you to manage the stress it causes. This involves exploring how you think about, relate to and understand the condition. - We correct any hearing loss
Even a mild hearing loss can trigger tinnitus. When hearing loss is corrected with hearing aids – and normal sound levels are restored to your brain – the tinnitus often recedes to a much quieter level and can even disappear. The quicker a hearing aid can be fitted after you develop tinnitus, the more likely you’ll be to experience a significant reduction in the condition. - We use sound enrichment or sound therapy
We use the latest hearing technology which wirelessly streams relaxing sounds into the ears, masking the tinnitus and allowing you to feel calm and in control.
What to do next
Come and see us for an unrushed and informative consultation at The Hearing Clinic. We’ll take time to understand how tinnitus affects your life and we’ll assess your hearing before putting together a tailored plan to tame it once and for all.
Helpful links
- NHS Choices: learn more about the basics of tinnitus
- British Tinnitus Association: help and support for tinnitus sufferers
- Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Centre: discover more about tinnitus retraining therapy
