Tinnitus
Tinnitus is an awareness of noises in your ears or head that have no external source. The sound can be in one or both ears and can vary in pitch or volume. Some people are even aware of familiar songs. Tinnitus is a relatively common condition with an estimated 1 in 10 adults being aware of it. The majority of those people manage it well and it does not impact on their quality of life. Tinnitus awareness is commonly associated with hearing impairment and also stress or life style changes. It can lead to difficulties concentrating or falling asleep. NHS Borders Audiology Department offer a specialist clinic for the diagnosis and management of tinnitus which is led by Senior Audiologists with a specialist interest and additional training in this area.
How do I get an appointment?
The Audiology department accept referrals directly from GPs for patients with persistent tinnitus in one or both ears. If you would like an appointment please speak to you GP and request an onward referral.
What treatment is available?
Most tinnitus management is targeted towards helping you to ‘habituate to’ or learn to filter out the tinnitus sound so that you are less aware of it. This is a natural process and occurs if for example you move into a house next to a railway. You hear every train initially but after a while you don’t notice them anymore. There are some things that can help habituate and some that will hinder it. It is easier to filter out constant repetitive sounds that don’t have any negative meaning. If you find the tinnitus distressing or anxiety-provoking, the anxiety can then become a maintaining factor by stopping habituation. People can find themselves in a cycle of worrying about their tinnitus, checking on it and then getting physically anxious which makes them feel more worried and check on it more. In order to filter out the tinnitus sound we need to break this cycle. This can be done by reducing attention (using sound enrichment/hearing aids), calming the body’s physical anxiety response (active relaxation/exercise) and looking at any underlying worrying about the tinnitus (tinnitus information and counselling)
During your tinnitus clinic appointment we will advise you on the best ways for you to manage your tinnitus awareness so that it does not impact on your quality of life. Management may include:
- Hearing aids
- Sound therapy
- Sleep counselling
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Active relaxation and lifestyle changes
Useful Websites:
Hyperacusis
Hyperacusis is a condition that is characterised by hyper-sensitivity to loud noises. For an individual experiencing hyperacusis, moderate to high level environmental sounds become uncomfortable, annoying and painful. Hyperacusis is very common in people experiencing tinnitus.
Hyperacusis can have a great impact on daily life of the sufferers, and preclude them from social interactions, work and free time activities.
Currently there are a number of ways in which Hyperacusis can be managed.
How do I get an appointment?
The Audiology department accept referrals directly from GPs for patients with sound sensitivity. If you would like an appointment please speak to your GP and request an onward referral.
What treatment is available?
Individuals can develop sensitivity to sound for several reasons. Our Hyperacusis management is tailored to the individual and could include:
- Sound therapy
- Hearing aids
- Counselling
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Relaxation and lifestyle changes
Useful links: