Tinnitus Consultation

Tinnitus, a persistent ringing, buzzing, whistling or hissing in your ears from no external source, can be a debilitating condition affecting 10% of the population. But the good news is there are plenty of ways to manage it.

At The Hearing Care Partnership this all begins with our free tinnitus consultations, which will set you up with a tailored tinnitus management plan. So you can get back to living life at full volume.

A grandma and grandson wearing glasses and talking on the tablet.
Diagram explaining the origin of tinnitus.

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually associated with ringing in the ears. But it can actually be any type of sound that is heard that doesn’t come from an external source. This could be humming, buzzing, ringing, hissing or whistling for example.

Different types of tinnitus

Some people even get ‘musical’ tinnitus, which sounds like a familiar tune being played inside their head. While ‘pulsatile’ tinnitus is a type of tinnitus where the sound beats in time with your heart.

Is tinnitus an illness or a symptom?

Tinnitus isn’t an illness itself. But better described as a symptom of an underlying problem. However, it tends to be difficult to determine what that underlying cause is.

What is a Tinnitus Consultation?

During your tinnitus consultation you’ll receive a free, full hearing assessment to find out what’s going on with your ears and determine any hearing loss which might be caused by your tinnitus.

We’ll go through a thorough medical history to determine if there is anything that may have been a trigger or is exacerbating the tinnitus.

We will check the health of the ears to rule out if wax or infections are the cause. We will perform tests to assess the function and health of each ear, including a middle ear pressure check that looks for congestion or blockages. We’ll also complete a thorough hearing test to determine if there is any underlying hearing loss.

Your expert audiologist will then be able to give you personalised advice on which tinnitus treatments would be beneficial for you and your ears. This can include various therapies to help you manage the condition, hearing aids, as well as ear wax removal if that is what is causing your problems.

How do I know if I have Tinnitus?

Did you know that 30% of people will suffer from tinnitus at some point during their life? So, if you’re concerned you might have it, you’re not alone.

Symptoms

If you have tinnitus, you will be experiencing unexplained noises in one or both ears. Or the noises could seem like they’re right in your head.

Ringing is the most common noise, but they can also manifest as:

  • Buzzing
  • Whooshing
  • Beating
  • Musical tune
  • Hissing
  • Roaring

If you’re concerned you have tinnitus but aren’t sure, the best thing to do is to come in for a free tinnitus consultation. Our expert audiologists will go through some tests and come up with a personalised plan to manage your symptoms.

The Hearing Care Partnership, logo without the blue circle.

Why choose The Hearing Care Partnership?

At THCP you can get a free, comprehensive and detailed tinnitus consultation with one of our expertly trained, qualified professionals. We use all the latest and safest accredited methods during our examinations so you can be sure you’re in safe hands.

And with no obligation to purchase any aftercare, hearing aids or further services, there will never be any hidden costs. We’re simply here to help.

After your consultation, your audiologist will discuss your management plan and offer guidance towards other sources of support or ongoing support from us, so you can get back to living life to the full.

What does a Tinnitus consultation involve?

A review of your medical history

We will discuss the tinnitus and may well do a questionnaire to assess the impact the tinnitus is having on your quality of life

We will assess the health of your ears and hearing

We will discuss the various management techniques as listed above to determine what may best help you and alleviate the effects of the tinnitus

Book your free hearing assessment

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An audiologist performing a hearing assessment on a patient.

How do I manage having Tinnitus?

Sadly, we’re yet to find a cure for tinnitus. But don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to manage the condition so it doesn’t bother you in your day-to-day life.

The first and most important thing to do is to get regular hearing checks. Since tinnitus can’t be cured, the best thing to do is find it early so that you can start managing it as soon as possible and prevent it affecting your lifestyle.

There’s a chance that your tinnitus could be caused by a build-up of earwax inside your ear canal. At THCP we offer flat-fee earwax removal for £70 in-practice. We use the very latest and safest removal techniques to ensure quick and painless tinnitus relief.

For those who have a hearing loss and tinnitus, addressing any underlying hearing loss can bring an indirect relief to the tinnitus itself. So, although we can’t reduce the tinnitus, we can change how you perceive it and give you some comfort along with hearing better. The British Tinnitus Association list this as one of the best ways to cope with tinnitus.

This uses natural background sounds like rain or birdsong to distract your brain from the tinnitus noises. These days, this can even be a feature that’s included in your hearing aids – how cool is that!

Tinnitus can often be stressful and difficult to live with. And added stress will only exacerbate the condition. So CBT focuses on controlling negative feelings surrounding tinnitus, making the noises become less noticeable.

A combination of both sound enrichment and CBT, this helps you to focus on relaxing natural sounds and ignore your tinnitus.

'Free Tinnitus Consultation' banner.

How much does a Tinnitus consultation cost?

Our tinnitus consultations are free with no obligation to pay for further care. We’re simply here to help! If hearing aids are recommended, then this is a decision you and your audiologist can discuss, so you can decide what is best for you.

How do I book a Tinnitus consultation?

Book Online

Book a free tinnitus consultation at your preferred practice

Book by phone

Call us on 0800 52 00 546. Lines are open Monday – Saturday 08:30 – 17:00.

Frequently Asked Questions

The exact cause of tinnitus is yet to be determined. But it’s commonly associated with exposure to loud sounds. For example rock stars Phil Collins and Pete Townsend are famous long-term sufferers of the condition.

Another theory is that tinnitus is due to the brain’s failure to control its reaction to sounds. Stress, injuries, and neurological and metabolic disorders can also bring on tinnitus. But why this happens isn’t fully understood.

What’s the connection with hearing loss?

If you suffer from hearing loss, you might be more susceptible to tinnitus too. That’s because you might not be able to hear regular background noises that would usually mask tinnitus sounds.

Tinnitus will often go away on its own. But that doesn’t mean you should suffer in silence. If your tinnitus has been persistent for some time and is negatively affecting your life, make sure you book a free tinnitus consultation with one of our expert audiologists.

While there’s no cure for tinnitus, there are plenty of ways to manage your symptoms so it doesn’t bother you so much. These include using Hearing Aids, Sound Enrichment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.

Hearing unexplained noises in your ears? There’s a chance you might have tinnitus. Tinnitus is most commonly heard as ringing, but can also manifest as sounds such as:

  • Buzzing
  • Humming
  • Whooshing
  • Roaring

If your tinnitus is caused by a build up of earwax, ear wax removal is a quick and straightforward way to possibly get tinnitus relief. You can book an earwax removal at THCP here.

However, if your tinnitus cause is unknown, while not technically treatable, there are various therapies you can get to help you manage the condition. These include:

  • Using Hearing Aids if you have a hearing loss
  • Sound Enrichment Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Tinnitus Retraining Therapy