Tinnitus Therapy & Assessments

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no external sound is present. It is generated by the brain and often described as ringing, buzzing, hissing or whistling. It may be heard in one or both ears or inside the head. Around 14% of UK adults experience tinnitus, with severity varying widely.

No. You can book a tinnitus consultation at The Hearing Clinic directly, without a GP referral. If your GP has already investigated your tinnitus and you have relevant letters or test results, it’s helpful to bring these, but they’re not required.

Tinnitus is most commonly linked to changes in the auditory system, often due to hearing loss from ageing, noise exposure, or other factors. When the brain receives less sound input, it can increase internal activity, which may be perceived as tinnitus. Stress, illness, medication, and jaw or neck tension can also contribute.

In some cases, no clear cause is identified, which can be frustrating. Part of your initial tinnitus assessment with us is working through your history to understand what may be driving your tinnitus and what that means for how we manage it.

Sometimes tinnitus can go away on its own, particularly if it’s been triggered by a specific event like a loud concert or a short-term illness. Persistent tinnitus that has lasted more than three months is unlikely to resolve without management. The earlier you seek specialist support, the more options are available to you and the better your outcomes will be.

There is currently no cure for tinnitus, something we’re upfront about. However, effective management can significantly reduce the impact tinnitus has on your life. Many of our patients reach a point where their tinnitus is present but barely noticeable. That outcome is realistic and achievable for most people with the right support, and is the goal of every management programme at The Hearing Clinic.

Sleep is one of the areas most commonly affected by tinnitus, and it’s something we address directly in your management plan. CBT along with sound enrichment – using a low-level background sound to reduce the contrast between silence and tinnitus – is one of the most effective strategies. We’ll guide you on the right approach for your specific pattern of tinnitus rather than giving you a generic recommendation.

If you have hearing loss alongside your tinnitus, hearing aids can make a significant difference. Tinnitus often emerges because of hearing loss and even mild hearing loss can trigger tinnitus.  Hearing aids restore the full range of sounds to the brain which means the tinnitus often significantly recedes and in some cases becomes inaudible.  Many modern devices also include dedicated tinnitus management programmes. We’ll assess your hearing as part of your consultation and discuss whether hearing technology is likely to be beneficial for you.

It varies depending on the individual and the severity of the tinnitus. Some patients notice meaningful improvement within a few weeks of starting a management programme. For others, particularly those with long-standing or more severe tinnitus, progress is more gradual. We’ll be clear about realistic timescales at your initial appointment, and your programme is adjusted over time based on how you’re responding.