Hearing Therapist : What can I expect ? - Tinnitus UK

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Hearing Therapist : What can I expect ?

Andy0708 profile image
7 Replies

Hi everyone. I am due to see a hearing therapist on the NHS with regards to the tinnitus & hyperacusis I have. This will be my first appointment so I am just wondering what I will encounter based on other peoples experiences ?. Thanks.

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Andy0708 profile image
Andy0708
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7 Replies

HI Andy,

It all depends on what kind of treatment is available at the Audiology clinic that you attend. There are a variety of treatments. The best treatment for Tinnitus and hyperacusis is TRT: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. Not all hospitals practice this treatment as it's quite expensive and the treatment lasts up to 2 years. CBT: Cognitive behavioural therapy, is a close second.

I have written an article : Tinnitus, A Personal View. It explains causes of tinnitus, treatment and coping methods. Below is a segment taken from it regarding the role of a Hearing Therapist and what to expect. If you would like a copy of my article, please send me your email address in Private messenger. Please don't post it in the forum.

______________________________________________

When you meet with your Hearing Therapist for the first time you will probably have a lengthy conversation, where you will be able to relay how you have been feeling since the onset of your tinnitus. This is your chance to get it all out there and remember the person you will be talking to is someone that knows a lot about this condition and the way it can affect a person emotionally and physically.

Some of the comments that you may have been told by people that play down tinnitus as something minor because theirs is not intrusive won’t be mentioned.

Throughout the consultation you will be listened to and then advised how to look at your situation a little differently which comes with time and adopting a more positive approach to life. Hearing Therapists help their patients by showing them a way forward and demystifying a lot of the negativity that surrounds this condition.

Not surprisingly, this level of understanding and empathy doesn’t always come from training and working in an ENT department alone, for some of these people also have tinnitus. Over the years I have met quite a few Hearing Therapists and Audiologists at tinnitus Internet forums helping people. At some point they have relayed to me that they have tinnitus or were born with it as my hearing therapist was.

Treatment and coping strategies

Coping strategies that people have found helpful will be explained, as well as giving you advice on the types of treatments available to you at the clinic. Some are listed below.

TRT (Tinnitus Retraining Therapy)

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

Relaxation exercises

The Sound Machine

Natural environmental sounds

CDs and MP3 downloads

Counselling

Ruud1boy profile image
Ruud1boy

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst would be my advice. People say the NHS is the best source of help and assistance for tinnitus, rather than going private, but I've found the assistance offered so far to be negligible. I'm having to battle endlessly to get anyone to acknowledge that I have a serious problem that I need help with. Fingers crossed you'll have more success than I've had so far.

annpavitt250448 profile image
annpavitt250448

I found the hearing therapist at our local hospital excellent. She has tinnitus herself. She went through a checklist of how the tinnitus was affecting me, listened and gave me lots of strategies of how to cope. Luckily my tinnitus is such that I am able to cope with it during t h e day, night is worse.

If you need it you should be offered follow up sessions.

drumcraw profile image
drumcraw in reply to annpavitt250448

i was told by my audiologist that there were no hearing therapists that he knew of saying he could be one but that a therapist wasnt as triened as an audiologist??????????? i also as ked my gp about seeing one and she said"if you know any let me know, as ive never heard of any" seems this is the position in scotland, i domt know anyone thats seen a hearing therapist and im in local T help group and have had T for over 4 years now so your lucky getting one, seems audiologists have the job but dont class themselves as hearing therapists. id love to meet one as im going off my head with my T. i feel im getting worse instead of better, mentally and physically!!!!!!!!!!!

in reply to annpavitt250448

Exactly Annpavvitt.

This is just my opinion. The best Hearing Therapists that are going to work with people with tinnitus, are the ones that have tinnitus. They have the understanding, patients and insight into the condition because they have it. This usually makes them excellent counsellors in tinnitus as you have found.

Michael.

musician12 profile image
musician12 in reply to annpavitt250448

Hi I am interested to know what strategies were given to cope. I use white noise, music and distraction. I am wondering if anyone has psychological processes to help, other than trying to keep positive. Awaiting a CBT therapy assessment, but apparently they don't usually offer it for t, in my area.

Don't reply much to posts, but what I would say is talk to who you like but it comes down to one person, you, you are the best therapist you have, o and us lot here.

Cheers mate

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