How to silence the torment of tinnitus: With sufferers often ‘abandoned’ by the NHS, read our expert tips on how to quieten that endless ringing in your ears
Tinnitus sufferers have been ‘abandoned’ by the NHS, being left on endless waiting lists and dismissed by doctors, a charity has claimed.
Patients with the distressing condition – often described as a ringing in the ears – are facing delays of up to three years for specialist appointments, according to Tinnitus UK.
One of the millions of Britons affected, Kerry Pollit, 36, says the condition is destroying her life while she has been ‘left in limbo’ without any medical help.
The beauty stylist from Portsmouth first started hearing a vibrating and hissing sound in her ears six months ago. She saw her GP twice and was given a referral to an ear specialist, but received no further information.
‘It has had a big impact on my work,’ says Kerry. ‘I can’t concentrate and I often don’t want to talk to clients. It has really affected me.’
Frustrated, Kerry saw a private audiologist but they said that it would likely go away on its own and offered no treatment.
The report by Tinnitus UK – which surveyed nearly 200 clinicians specialising in the condition – revealed even when patients finally get treatment, 60 per cent of doctors are not able to offer standard levels of care because of staffing shortages.
Sonja Jones, a private audiologist from Cardiff and co-author of the report, says: ‘Patients are being abandoned by the system. They’re waiting years for help while suffering from a relentless noise in their ears which is pushing them to a breaking point.’
One in seven adults in the UK – almost eight million – suffer from tinnitus, often described as a ringing in the ears
Experts also warn that patients are met with substandard care and are being treated as ‘low priority’, which is forcing them to go private.
The Tinnitus UK report found over a third of private audiologists agreed that the condition was not a high priority for them.
‘We are definitely getting more people to come and see us privately, and it is mainly overspill from NHS waiting lists,’ says Ms Jones.
‘The issue is that, for many private clinics, tinnitus is of low priority and focuses on selling prescriptions or equipment.’
One in seven adults in the UK – almost eight million – suffer from tinnitus.
As well as ringing, they may hear buzzing, hissing, whistling, humming or even distant voices. The sounds may also vary in pitch, and come and go or be continuous.
An estimated 1.5 million people struggle with severe symptoms that impact their lives.
There are no clear causes, as tinnitus can be linked to a number of conditions, including hearing loss, diabetes and thyroid disorders. It can also be caused by anxiety or depression, as well as being a side effect of certain drugs or treatments such as antibiotics and chemotherapy.
The ringing comes from the brain trying to compensate for the reduction in noise by increasing the sensitivity to sound.
For the one in ten with no obvious cause, scientists now believe that they have ‘hidden hearing loss’ caused by damage to a nerve that carries sound signals to the brain, but may escape being seen on a conventional test.
While there is no cure, the NHS recommends cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – talking therapy that helps with managing problems by changing the way patients think and behave.
However, research from Leeds Trinity University (LTU) found that only 8 per cent of people who go to their GP with tinnitus are given a CBT referral.
While CBT cannot stop the noise itself, it can reduce the distress it causes and improve quality of life, which research has shown reduces the intensity of symptoms.
Last year a survey of nearly 500 people with tinnitus revealed that one in five had had thoughts of suicide or harming themselves in the previous year, while eight out of ten experienced low mood or anxiety. Many were said to be sceptical about seeking psychological help for what they believe to be a physical condition.
As well as ringing, tinnitus sufferers may hear buzzing, hissing, whistling, humming or even distant voices. The sounds may also vary in pitch, and come and go or be continuous
Dr James Jackson is a psychologist at LTU who has the condition and is a specialist in its treatment. Although he had suffered with the condition all his life, he then experienced catastrophic hearing loss which caused it to worsen.
He says: ‘I really struggled with it to begin with – it was debilitating. I spent my 20s drinking heavily to fall unconscious rather than being alone with tinnitus.
‘There was this one noise that used to startle me, it was so sharp, and I just knew that I would have a bad day when I heard it.’
He has since dedicated his life to his research and eventually learnt to manage his condition on his own.
‘For starters,’ he adds, ‘it is about shifting your mindset to understand that it is not going away – there is no magic cure.
‘In a way, the reaction is very similar to a bereavement. So to cope with the loss, people need to find a way to reduce stress – something that is distracting and entertaining, like a hobby – as this will remove your focus from the condition.’
He adds: ‘When you first visit your GP they will likely say you just have to live with it, but there are always things that can be done – you don’t have to let it take over your life.
‘I often see people avoid activities that bring them happiness, even small things like sitting in a quiet garden, because they have come to associate it with the condition. This can really hamper you and make it worse.’
Another case involved Lars Henriksson, a classical musician from London, who felt a sudden loud clear tone while playing a gig 25 years ago. The 65-year-old says: ‘I tried everything, from sound therapy to yoga retreats. I was obsessed with trying to fix it but nothing worked.’
A conversation with a friend who also has tinnitus changed that.
‘He made me realise that it wasn’t the end of my life as I knew it,’ says the dad-of-two. ‘I lead a normal life now. It is still uncomfortable at times but it is no longer accompanied by fear, and I am able to still play music.’
This is via a technique known as habituation – when people are able to train themselves to shift their focus and distance themselves from the noise.
‘While I was able to do this myself, this is where the role of a psychologist and CBT sessions can be so useful to someone with tinnitus,’ says Dr Jackson.
Due to long waiting lists, some tinnitus patients are instructed to download apps which deliver CBT.
One of these is called OTO, which offers a CBT programme designed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, that claims to help change the brain’s reaction to tinnitus by pushing it into the background.
The company says that 90 per cent of patients see a reduction in symptoms over the three month course. Last year, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust announced it would begin referring tinnitus patients to the app, which they could use for free. However, anyone can download OTO, which costs £36 a month.
‘While there is not a replacement for face-to-face therapy, this is a really exciting and useful tool for patients,’ says Sue Falkingham, a Yorkshire-based audiologist. ‘It can be difficult to find CBT designed specifically for tinnitus patients, but this app does that.’
Aside from therapy, there are limited treatment options available. However, research shows that a number of lifestyle changes can help ease the burden.
Studies shows that mindfulness or meditation, which can reduce stress levels, can help sufferers.
Mindfulness involves sitting silently and focusing on your thoughts, and a number of apps such as Headspace or Calm can assist in the process.
A 2024 study found a third of patients who took a two-month course of mindfulness had a reduction in symptoms and also reported fewer negative thoughts about their condition.
Experts advise that regular exercise can help too. A 2024 study found that those who exercised over two and a half hours a week had a reduction in their symptoms.
As well as reducing stress levels by mindfulness and exercise, there are also triggers that may increase suffering.
Certain foods have been shown to make the condition worse – including products high in salt, alcohol, caffeine and salicylates – natural chemicals made by plants – such as coffee, avocados and blueberries. This is because such products can cause a spike in blood pressure, which affects the brain and in turn your hearing.
However, Dr Jackson warns against living in fear and says: ‘For me it was about understanding what makes my tinnitus worse and accepting it, ‘I love drinking coffee but it can cause me problems throughout the day. That doesn’t mean I always avoid it. I own the decision and understand I am in control.’
However, campaigners say that, before patients can learn to manage their tinnitus on their own, they need to see a specialist. This is why charities are calling on the NHS to make it easier for patients to be referred to a psychologist.
Alex Brooks-Johnson , chief executive of Tinnitus UK, says: ‘The NHS is under immense pressure, but failing to act will only make things worse. Tinnitus can devastate mental health for some people, adding further strain to our healthcare system.
‘We need to work together and take urgent action to protect these eight million people.’
Can you find peace with this £3,500 gadget?
Promising technologies designed to combat tinnitus symptoms have been launched in recent months – but do they actually work?
One, a £3,500 device, the Lenire involves wearing headphones which play soothing noises while a vibrating gadget that is placed in the mouth offers ‘bimodal stimulation’ – combining auditory and electrical nerve stimulation. Tinnitus patients will need to use the device for two 30-minute sessions each day.
A 2022 clinical trial found that 90 per cent of the 450 participants had a reduction in symptoms over a six-week period.
The Lenire was approved for use in America last year and is available at private clinics in the UK.
The Lenire, a £3,500 device, was approved for use in America last year and is available at private clinics in the UK
However, experts have warned against splashing out on the device just yet.
‘By instructing patients to sit down and put the headphones on twice a day, it’s putting greater focus on their tinnitus throughout the day,’ says Sue Falkingham, a Yorkshire-based audiologist. ‘This is the opposite of what we advise patients to do.’
However, a cheaper alternative may soon provide the answer.
Last month, health regulators backed the latest Apple headphones for use as hearing aids. The AirPods Pro 2, which cost about £200, have a specific anti-tinnitus feature, providing background noise to distract from the ringing.
‘The range of functionality, particularly the use of background noise and the ability to tailor sound, can prove really useful for tinnitus patients,’ Ms Falkingham adds.
