Hi - I’ve had tinnitus for several years now and just put up with it. It’s bad at the moment so messaged my Gp to see if they could help.
They just replied saying there’s no cure for tinnitus.
Should I have been offered an ENT referral?
I use white noise whilst I’m working and have audiobooks/podcasts on in bed to distract me from it
Hi Baxtersmum.
It largely depends on what NHS support for tinnitus you've accessed previously. ENT clinics tend to be focussed on conditions where tinnitus might be a symptom - eustachian tube issues, sinuses, perforated eardrums - which may have surgical processes associated with them.
Anecdotally, some forum users feel that the ENT community are less concerned with tinnitus than with what might be causing it.
If you're not noticing pressure in the skull, ear pain, and the main issue is tinnitus itself, it may be as well to ask your GP to refer you to see an audiologist at the local hospital, as this department often offers advice and support on managing tinnitus.
Your GP practice is correct in saying that there is no cure for tinnitus. But then it isn't an illness - it can be a symptom of hearing loss, of sinus problems, occur alongside blood pressure problems, happen during pregnancy or menopause, result from neck/spinal issues or from issues with the jaw. Treatment for those underlying issues, if they are diagnosed, can help to reduce how much we are affected by tinnitus.
More than happy to see what other forum users can contribute to this discussion.
Thanks for replying . I’ve never seen anyone about it before - just put up with it. I do have a sensation of fullness in the ears, and on and off sinus problems all my life really.
I might get back to them and ask to be referred. Ta 
I think I must be one of the very lucky ones. Our hospital has a tinnitus clinic. They have supplied me with hearing aids which have Bluetooth so that I can play the odd tune quietly from my iPhone.
I also had a Ct scan because I have pulsatile tinnitus too. Can hear by pacemaker beating away.
Di
Hello, may I ask if the hearing aids were on the NHS or if you had to pay? I trialled a hearing aid in my tinnitus ear this morning and it helped slightly but not enough to pay for it. She said the starting cost was £1,000 and as it didn't massively get rid of the noise I didn't think it was worth it.
if you go to NICE (National Institute for Clinical Evidence) website and input tinnitus to their search box, top middle, you’ll see the pathway that doctors may offer, depending on their local protocols.
As Pat says, there is no cure as such and it seems some doctors can be dismissive. If it’s causing you problems they might be able to help with those problems (such as anxiety), or with possible causes.
Some tinnitus sufferers like me don’t have a cause as far as I’m aware.
Thanks Rosie - I’ll have a look on there 👍
Hello - Don’t give up, my GP was also very dismissive in the beginning but if I were you I would definitely ask to be referred to an ENT specialist to rule out anything untoward. Mine started just after a bout of Labyrinthitis left me almost totally deaf in one ear just over 3 years ago. Have you had a hearing test? As mine occurred during Covid, waiting times were so long I paid to see someone and also paid for an MRI. I was in a dreadful state of depression. Thankfully the MRI was clear and the consultant transferred me to his NHS list where after a few months I began seeing an Audiologist who has been absolutely wonderful in helping me cope. I still see her every few months at our local hospital and just to be able to talk to someone who understands what you are going through is so reassuring. We know there is no cure but there is help. Good luck xx
You are certainly on the right path with self help and reaching out here. I was recently sent for my my umpteenth ENT appointment (I'm persistent). As soon as I mentioned I'm seeing a neurologist I was discharged on the premise I was already on the best care for my other symptoms, at least, exacerbating my Tinnitus and Hyperacusis.
As TinnitusUKPat says they're looking for underlying conditions. It's somewhat good to know it's just Tinnitus (and/or Hyperacusis).
I'm afraid we can only help ourselves - with support from friends and family (online or otherwise)
At the very least you should have been referred to the audiology dept who give guidance on how to live with it. I found that if you mention specific issues such as it's pulsultile, or you have tingling sensation around the head they normally should refer to ENT for a better look via a MRI to make sure there is nothing there that should'nt be. That was a few years ago however of course no idea what they can offer now.
Hello, its true there's no cure, how ever if its getting to you, go and see your doctor explain to him how you are feeling he will check your ears for wax and then should refer you to the ENT clinic who will also check your ears for wax then give you a hearing test and then refer you for a MRI scan, where i live in Sheffield that's what happens, The health service in Sheffield is brilliant or at least it has been for me, doing all that will help you cope better even if there is no good out come, you are probably just going through a bad spike at the moment, we have all been there, im sure you have had them before, if i can give you one tip and that is, live your life to the full, do not let T control it, because it can, the more you are in charge the easier it becomes, spikes will come and go, it does get easier my friend.
I went to an ENT at University of Chicago Health and he said nothing can be done for tinnitus. I asked about tinnitus masking hearing aides and he said those would not help. The ENT also has tinnitus and he said that one has to just learn to live with it. I had my hearing tested too, and I have no hearing loss. I tried Hearbuds, inexpensive from Lucid.com. that I thought would mask the tinnitus and make it less noticible due to noises in the environment woud overpower the tinnitus but those are not of much use even though sounds from the environment are amplified by the Hearbuds. It is weird that when I use my hair dryer to dry my hair, the tinnitus stops for a few minutes and then the tinnitus returns.
Thank you also much for replying - I’ll certainly follow it up . Will probably tell my GP I have some degree of hearing loss as a way of getting referred . Will also explain how down I get sometimes with it . Take care everyone
hi there
Get your hearing tested. I ve had shsssssssssss in my head for some years, and have learned to habituate and I can sleep easily, but I had my hearing tested last year after too many ‘what did you say?’ moments and found that I was experiencing profound high frequency hearing loss, which my silly brain tries to replicate (tinnitus) Mid and lower frequencies tend to produce different sounds. The trouble was I could hear in normal environments, but in noisy places it was impossible and I have been lip reading for the last year, quite successfully not realising that I had actually lost hearing. Tinnitus aid Hearing aids have massively helped restore my high frequency and now after four months I am noticing that the big T isn’t as loud as it used to be, some mornings when I wake, I can barely hear it, but unfortunately It still turns up the volume again after environmental noises invade. Hearing loss tinnitus will never truly go but a hearing test could rule out hearing loss for you as a starting point.
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