nhs help

[handh]

What help can I get for tinnitus from the nhs please

[Lioned]

You should ask your GP to refer you to your nearest ENT Hospital who should then put you through MRI scan to eliminate any physical problem.

If nothing shows up you then join the club and just hope it doesn’t get worse.

If it is not to bad you can learn to live with it.

All the best

[Ruud1boy]

Next to nothing. Some NHS Trusts offer tinnitus 'therapy', but it's barely worthy of the name in my experience.

[djv1985 in reply to Ruud1boy]

I’ve just been offered the same thing. I was talking to a nurse and she said “oh we had a patient or two get sent for that. One said it worked wonders but the other said it seemed to make him notice his Tinnitus more than before due to a therapy style called concentration behaviour”

Apparently some army vets who have it are taught to listen to the noise for hours. Concentrate on it and that can help. I don’t get that I ignore mine which is currently at 7/10 and live better with the ignoring it and distraction style.

I’m considering not going or going to just the first one.

[Ruud1boy in reply to djv1985]

The 'therapy' I was offered was a 1hr group chat about the mechanisms of tinnitus and a few leaflet handouts pulled from the internet. Literally nothing that I didn't already know.

When I asked what the next step in the therapy was, the guy looked shocked and said 'That's it. You could come and do the session again if you like'.

[djv1985 in reply to Ruud1boy]

Oh. Well that’s not really worth it.

[Colleen_The_BTA]

Hello Handh

Remember you can self manage by perhaps looking on the below:

tinnitus.org.uk (information and support details)

takeontinnitus.co.uk (free tinnitus management programme)

If you’d like to sign up to receive ‘Focus’, our new free monthly e-newsletter, you can sign up at tinnitus.org.uk/forms/conta...

Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

Kind regards

Colleen

[Lindsay6 in reply to Colleen_The_BTA]

Self management should not be the ' default ' - we need support as well as this

[Colleen_The_BTA in reply to Lindsay6]

We offer our Helpline 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone])

BTA Web Chat Nationwide Launch - October 2019

Are you seeking an online ‘safe space’ to talk about your tinnitus? We're here to offer real time support, exactly when you need it. We listen, advise or direct, whilst engaging with you one to one when you are unable to make a call. ​We want you to feel you are able to communicate at your own pace in your own space confidentially with one of our Helpline Advisors who are on hand to look after you and answer any questions you may have around tinnitus.

Simply click on on the icon called 'We are here!' at the bottom right corner of the screen to start your chat. tinnitus.org.uk/helpline

[MRDeaf in reply to Colleen_The_BTA]

How does a Totally Deaf person with Tinnitus 24/7 self manage.

[tomlwatson]

I have self-managed for a long time (years) with decent success. But, my GP recommended having a tinnitus evaluation with a "specialist". I have to say even though the specialist told me little that I didn't know, it was helpful. They explained how various forms of tinnitus come about and a little on how to manage. If you've had little or no eduction on habituation techniques it is worth the time of the appointment. Don't expect them to rid you of tinnitus but their explanations and techniques are helpful, IMO.

[jonathan_m]

Hi

I have had single ear Tinnitus for 6 months now and its taken this long for my ENT appointment to come around. Its at the end of the week so I will feedback and let you know.

I am convinced my T is due to a physical change in blood vessels near the ear brought on through high blood pressure and an episode of extreme exertion. I'm hoping a scan will help shed some light. I have recently been to a support group which was interesting and helpful. The stat that apparently 98% manage to habituate within 5 years gave me some hope.

Regards

[Ruud1boy in reply to jonathan_m]

That stat is great if you're in the 98%. Not so good if you're in the other 2%. Even worse if you're in the <1% whose T has a significant adverse affect on their life.

Lots of people (10-15%) of the population have tinnitus, but most of them don't experience any problems. There's a big difference between having tinnitus and suffering from tinnitus. I speak from bitter experience over the last 15yrs.

[jonathan_m in reply to Ruud1boy]

Indeed. One thing I realised from attending a support group last week is that everyones Tinnitus is different. The volume of it clearly varies greatly as well as the type of sound experienced. Within that 2% that do not habituate there was a very small percentage who decide to take their own lives. What was also very clear was how important it is to cultivate a positive mental attitude as much as possible and develop techniques to cope with living with T. Using art to express feelings was an interesting insight. I was particularly interested in different people's attitudes towards their T. Some would not want to acknowledge their T at all as they felt that was somehow 'letting it win', others worked hard on accepting and embracing their T so as to stop negative thought patterns developing thus hopefully not generating negative feelings. I also heard about some work being done in Switzerland on drug development to cure tinnitus which apparently is entering human testing now.

[Judyspal]

Presumably you have been to the Dr for a diagnosis,the Dr will try various treatments to make sure you have no wax or anything else in your ear causing the tinnitus,if not cleared by treatment then he will refer you to E.N.T, for a check and hearing test with a consultant,they will refer you for an M.R.I scan to make sure you have no underlying cause for your tinnitus whilst at the same time refer you to the audiologist for further checks/ CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) to try to understand how to live with T.

Mine was diagnosed as Trauma Tinnitus and is very loud,white noise apps on my mobile help a little

Good luck

[Lindsay6]

Think it depends where you live and if you are ' believed '.

[Vibe19]

Postcode lottery - group talk on tinnitus management in my area.

[handh]

Thanks for all your replies

[Gaby_1]

As others have advised, the first stop is G.P, then ENT and MRI to rule out anything sinister. Unfortunately no one really knows the cause, and there is no treatment. More money needs to be invested as when Tinnitus is bad people commit subside. Mine comes and goes and I meditate and practise breathing exercises which help

[jonathan_m]

well to follow up, I just had my ENT appointment. Had a hearing test first which showed some loss in my right ear (the ear I have T in). Consultation after that resulted in a MRI referral. If this shows as normal I will then be referred for a CT scan using dye to show blood vessels around the ear. Depending on result there may be a referral to Neurology. In the meantime I have been booked for CBT treatment and T clinic. Although a slow process the NHS do seem to be very thorough.

[handh]

Is there a nhs helpline for tinnitus

[Ruud1boy in reply to handh]

No - the BTA helpline is available and that's better than anything the health service would be able to muster.