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Get specialist help for tinnitus today.
Often known as “ringing in the ears,” tinnitus is a medical condition where you hear sounds such as ringing, buzzing or hissing, but there is no external source.
Some degree of tinnitus is common and around eight out of 20 people experience tinnitus symptoms from time to time. Around one in 200 people experience severe or long-lasting symptoms that have a significant impact on their quality of life. Tinnitus is more common in older adults.
There’s no cure for tinnitus, but the condition can be managed with treatments such as tinnitus counselling. Tinnitus counselling aims to advise, inform, and educate you about your condition, implement healthy habits and teach coping strategies to manage tinnitus symptoms.
Call or book online today to arrange a consultation to discuss private tinnitus counselling with a consultant of your choice at Circle Health Group. This page explains what tinnitus counselling is, the benefits of tinnitus counselling and what to expect during your treatment.
The cost of this procedure depends on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.
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Tinnitus symptoms vary from person to person and not everyone experiences tinnitus in the same way. Some people perceive intrusive sounds from one or both ears, while other people with tinnitus feel the sounds are coming from inside their head or from their immediate environment. You may experience tinnitus constantly, or your symptoms may come and go. Many people with tinnitus find that their symptoms are worse when they are tired or in a quiet environment.
Tinnitus may occur on its own or be accompanied by other symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness, blocked ears, pain in your ears (otalgia), or intolerance of loud sounds (hyperacusis).
Tinnitus symptoms can be soft or loud, low or high pitched. They may sound like:
Temporary tinnitus can be caused by several factors including a cold, a blow to the head, a build-up of earwax, a foreign object in your ear, an ear infection or injury or exposure to very loud noise.
In many cases, the cause of chronic (long-term) tinnitus is unclear, but it may be linked to:
Tinnitus counselling is a type of treatment for tinnitus that uses a range of techniques and therapy treatments to help improve and manage tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus counselling may include:
This is the first part of tinnitus counselling treatment and involves learning more about tinnitus and the way your brain responds to sound. Having a greater understanding of tinnitus can reduce anxiety about the condition and provide reassurance about what you are experiencing. It can also help greatly to speak to a health professional with expertise in tinnitus.
Sound therapy or sound enrichment is a treatment that uses sound to reduce symptoms of tinnitus. It aims to change your perception of tinnitus or alter your reaction to it using sound. Sound therapy works by distracting you from your tinnitus symptoms, or helping you become desensitised and learn to ignore them— a process known as habituation.
People with tinnitus often find their symptoms are more intrusive at night or when they are in a quiet environment. Listening to other sounds such as music, the radio, television, or a sound enrichment device can make tinnitus symptoms less noticeable and distressing.
For many people with tinnitus, symptoms are often worse when your environment is quiet, such as at bedtime. Lack of sleep can also make your symptoms worse as well as increase stress and anxiety creating a vicious cycle of tinnitus symptoms.
If your symptoms are affecting your sleep, practising good sleep hygiene and using a tinnitus masking device can help manage your symptoms and improve your sleep.
Masking devices are devices that emit sound (usually white noise) that mask tinnitus symptoms. They come in various forms including bedside sound generators, devices that resemble a hearing aid, earbuds, headbands or eye masks.
Practicing good sleep hygiene is important for everyone, particularly if you have problems sleeping, or a condition such as tinnitus.
Some things you can do to help improve your sleep include:
Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of talking therapy that works to change your thought processes and the resulting behaviour. CBT for tinnitus doesn’t eliminate your symptoms but can help change the way you think about and respond to them.
Tinnitus symptoms can be unpleasant and intrusive leading to stress and anxiety. Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga and tai chi can reduce anxiety and make your tinnitus symptoms less noticeable.
Tinnitus counselling has many benefits including:
At your first consultation, you will be seen by a consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, a doctor specialising in conditions affecting the ears, nose or throat.
Your consultant will ask you about your symptoms, general health, family and medical history as well as any medications you are taking. They will ask in detail how your tinnitus symptoms impact your day-to-day life including your sleep, mental health and ability to perform normal daily activities.
Your consultant will perform a physical examination of your head and neck. They will examine your ears thoroughly using an instrument called an otoscope to check for any physical problems that could be causing your tinnitus, such as a build-up of earwax, infection or other abnormalities.
To confirm your diagnosis or check for any underlying medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms, your consultant may order tests including:
Your consultant will diagnose tinnitus based on your symptoms, physical examinations and the results of any tests or scans.
At Circle Health Group, your first appointment is very important as it’s where you meet your consultant, the doctor responsible for your care. Your consultant will take time to get to know you, discuss your expectations for treatment and encourage you to ask any questions you may have. It is important to us that you are as well-informed and comfortable as possible during your treatment, so please discuss any questions or concerns with your consultant during your appointment.
At the end of your appointment, your consultant will decide on a customised treatment plan for you based on your symptoms and diagnosis.
There is nothing specific that you need to do to prepare for tinnitus counselling. It may be helpful to write down a list of your symptoms, any medications you are taking and any questions you want to ask your consultant before your appointment.
Tinnitus counselling is a non-invasive treatment that doesn’t require any recovery time. You can continue with your normal daily activities immediately after your treatment.
Tinnitus counselling is carried out as a day case and does not require a hospital stay.
As long as you feel safe to drive, you can drive yourself home after your tinnitus counselling.
You can go back to work as soon as you feel able after your tinnitus counselling.
Tinnitus counselling is a safe, non-invasive treatment with no known risks or complications.
At Circle Health Group, we have the experience and expertise to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients. As a patient with Circle Health Group, you can expect the highest standards of care including:
If you would like to see a consultant or learn more about tinnitus counselling, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 189 5499.