Don't know if any of you remember me posting about Hearing Aids and I questioned if they would benefit my T?
Well, I went to see my GP with the hope that she would refer me to Audiology...the answer to that was no she wouldn't. I've got to now go back to ENT and ask them to refer me. Even though ENT told me there was nothing more they could do for me. To say I'm slightly confused is an understatement!
I shall contact ENT and see what happens for a 2nd time. I hope I'm not wasting my time with this...I feel like I'm either going backwards or going round in a circle! My GP basically told me there was nothing she could do. It was an ENT matter.
Why is it so hard to get help for T? You basically have to fight to get anywhere!
Oh well...onwards and upwards!...or backwards...or round in a circle!!
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MOLKO1972
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Let's chalk it up to a lack of knowledge about referral routes and when it is appropriate to refer someone with a change in their hearing.
From our old friend, the NICE tinnitus referral guidelines:
"1.2.6 Refer people for tinnitus assessment and management in line with local pathways if they have any of the following:
- tinnitus that bothers them despite having received tinnitus support at first point of contact with a healthcare professional (see the recommendation on all stages of care in tinnitus support)
- persistent objective tinnitus
- tinnitus associated with unilateral or asymmetric hearing loss."
I don't see any mention in there of you having to chase for a referral - some GPs are genuinely baffling to me at times.
Okay, these are guidelines and clinicians can use their own experience and training to determine whether a patient is likely to benefit from a specific treatment or not, but refusal is a different thing entirely. Sadly, it's not the first time that I've heard of such decisions.
Do you think that GPs might start doing more of this sort of thing themselves if I were to invoice them for doing their jobs for them?
I was a bit shocked at my GP if I'm honest. She said that Audiology wouldn't be able to help me and I needed to go back to ENT, even though ENT had already said there was nothing more they could do for me...confusing or what!!?
MOLKO hello !!!! Well do you know what on the front page of the Daily Mail today , The Headlines state:: WHERE HAVE OUR GPS GONE ? well from what you’ve said they are getting pretty useless anyway , there is a complete lack of “ couldn’t care less”. It’s absolutely awful , isn’t it..
EXACTLY . I have often thought exactly the same as you . I cope better during the day but in the evening when I lay my head down on sofa for a test it can get very pressurising when I get up and walk about. I try to habituate towards it but sometimes it’s very hard to do so . Hope your alright 😊
I'm doing OK. I find during the day is the hardest for me. I'm OK at night...I seem to have habituated, so that is a blessing. In the beginning night time was a nightmare!
All this faff with GP's, ENT's and Audiology doesn't help and ramps my T right up. It's happily whistling away right now! The more I think about it, the more irritated I become.
It really helps to chat to sufferers of T on here though. It is a chance to let off a bit of steam
Thank you , apart from tinnitus though which makes me tired , I’ve also got painful arthritis and get frequent urine infections . So quite a battle !!! I walk my two poodles as much as possible to keep my legs as strong as Possible . I’m 69
Definitely they are !!! But be aware you really have to be dedicated to have poodles they are. “ full on”. They are big miniatures . One black one white . Costs me an arm and a leg to groom every 6 weeks and they require plenty of exercise. But they are “ good fun”. Which one needs with tinnitus and arthritis. 🐩 🐩. 😂 🌲
I’ve already said GRRRR and I still mean it, but I have had a further thought on reflection. GPs surgeries are independent businesses contracted to the NHS to provide a range of services, and the financing for these is determined locally by Clinical Commissioning Groups. Contact details for your local CCG should be on the NHS website if you search for it. An email to them could start with something like “I wonder if you are aware that …… blah blah”.This might get you somewhere outside the circle that you are going round in.
Regardless whoever the GPS are contracted out to , it still doesn’t give them any reason to treat us and talk to us like we don’t matter , like a bit of dirt!!! Sorry just had to say something here..
Press on MOLKO1972 Keep saying what you want & need until someone helps you. It's so frustrating but you'll get there in the end and it'll be worthwhile.
I couldn't have stressed enough what I wanted and what I needed. It was actually getting a bit heated, but she still wouldn't budge! If you want something doing right...well you know the rest!
Nice work MOLKO1972 Please don't let it upset you. Otherwise it might make your T worse. We're all rooting for you here.
Keep pushing them! It is so frustrating. I had an argument with ENT last week. They said if I wanted to see ENT again I needed a fresh referral from my GP. I said I'd waited 18 months for the first appointment and threatened to make an official complaint at the hospital.
Today I received an ENT appointment for 3 weeks time! I recommend phoning and emailing consultants' secretaries until you get what you want. Take care. xx
Don't worry...I'd already done that!! I even told the secretary I didn't want to see the same Consultant (as he was useless!). I stressed I needed to go to Audiology, as I wanted to get my hearing loss investigated more. The nice Secretary got back to me very quickly and said to leave it with her and she'll get back to me...so fingers crossed!
It’s just incredible what’s going on right now, previously it was so simple see gp, refer to e.n.t.they do nothing other than refer you to audiology, great, now we are on the way,,,NOW,,, see gp,,, sometime this century,, local hospital in Stockport has “lost the contract “, so get referred to in a word,a private organization????? who then attempts to sell hearing aids ( free on nhs) for your T!!!!!! Apparently plan says if following hearing test the client has T to be referred to audiology at local hospital, this is not happening, so I went personally to both audiology and ENT department, got absolutely no where, no one seems to know what’s going on, who made the new rules, what is the pathway?????? It’s a complete and utter mess right now,, when you get referred by gp you can end up anywhere other than at nhs audiology!!!! In our support group half are under nhs audiology and being treated for their T the other half under our local spec savers who are more than happy to sell you for 3.5 K something you get FREE on nhs,, what’s going on??? Answers on a postcard to,, “who on earth knows” get your gp to refer you to audiology if you can find one, good luck, you may need it.
Hi MOLKO, When I went to Calderdale NHS ENT department the audiollogist said my hearing was not bad enough to give me free hearing aids, but as my Tinnitus was giving me so many problems he said he could give me hearing aids to help me with my Tinnitus, also what as been said before they take a while to get use to them, Good luck, hope this helps.
I have already been to ENT and they sent me for a MRI Scan, which came back normal, but then was told there was nothing more they could do for me. I just wanted to be referred to Audiology to see if they could help. Now I have got to go back to the people who said they couldn't do anything more for me...the whole set up is just bonkers!!
I will get the help I need. I couldn't have stressed enough to my GP that people with T need the help to be able to manage it and to get to the point where they can start leading a better life, as It can be quite debilitating. She seemed to understand where I was coming from, but she did say at one point that she was "just a GP and limited to what I can do". Oh really...you don't say!
My GP then proceeded to tell me I need to be more assertive in getting what I want when I go to ENT etc!! WHAT???...so me being assertive with my GP obviously doesn't count then??
You could hit your head against a brick wall numerous times and It wouldn't make the blindest bit of difference! You'd still be stuck going round in circles!
I agree and the same thing happed my MRI and CT scan were clear. You would at least need a reason why they will not accept you back as a patient.Yes it’s bonkers so sorry T is bad enough without this hassle.
Apparently even though they have said there is nothing more they can do for me, they do keep it open for you to go back within 6 months. My GP told me this, otherwise I wouldn't have known!
I have pulsatile tinnitus, which, unlike regular tinnitus, can have a fixable cause. And the members of the support group that I am in - whooshes- have to endure the same cycle and even more so!
Its just awful being referred from pillar to post in fact it is disgusting. I don't see why you should have to pay but I think that is the direction we are being pushed. I paid £180 to have a hearing test I am not saying that is what you should do as I understand many people can not afford to do that. I do wish you well it is so hard now to get any straight forward answers. GPs will not even syringe your ears now !! Its terrible.
You can get a free hearing test at places like Specsavers and Boots, with no obligation to buy. If you get a proper test you will at least know if you have some hearing loss as well, or if it is just T that is your problem.
I've actually had 3 hearing tests done and the third one found I had slight high pitched hearing loss in my T ear. This is why I want to be referred to Audiology and investigate further to see if I can have a hearing aid to mask my T.
Hi MOLOKO1972. Back in 2017 when I got this dreaded condition. My gp referred me to the audiology department. I had hearing test , mri scan, blood test, all normal. But, because I was in such distress I was quickly referred to the tinnitus clinic which provided me with the hearing aid /maskers. I wore these for six months. I had regular consultations during that time to assess how I was coping. After that 6 months she could see that I was coping a lot better. And only needed to come back if I felt the need. Perhaps I got lucky in the way I was supported. But reading your case it looks like the standards have dropped to unacceptable levels. Might I suggest that you ask to be feferred to the tinnitus department this will show if they actually have one! Best wishes Richard
When I said earlier about complaining to the Clinical,Commissioning Group - can I elaborate?
About four years ago at my GP practice you could not get an appointment (other than urgent as defined by receptionist) for four weeks, and even then not with own doc. They decided that being deaf in one ear because of wax was not urgent. I complained to the practice - no joy there as you’d expect. So I wrote to my MP. He said to write to the Clinical Commissioning Group to complain, which I did.
The practice then changed. If you ring before 2 p.m. you are guaranteed to see or speak to a nurse or a doctor that day! And it works!
So what I’m saying is, there are avenues where you think there is a brick wall to bang your head against.
A hearing test maybe? There is an accurate free online one at hearing test.online. My Practical Tinnitus App - Free in the Apple App Store has helpful info.
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