Tinnitus: The lonely struggle

Tinnitus Awareness Week is observed annually during the first full week of February. Its purpose is to educate the public on the symptoms of tinnitus and what treatments and support therapies are available to help alleviate the symptoms. Tinnitus UK (previously The British Tinnitus Association) promotes this campaign every year, as the only UK helpline that solely supports people with tinnitus.

What is tinnitus?

More commonly referred to as a ‘ringing in the ears’ the perceived sound of a person’s tinnitus can also take the form of a whooshing, buzzing, humming or whistling sound, often described as a ‘high frequency pitch’ sound in the ear. The symptoms of tinnitus can be experienced in one ear, or both ears, and the duration of the tinnitus can also have a significant impact on an individual’s ability to cope with their symptoms.

Tinnitus UK

Tinnitus UK have published this year’s report in the hope to be a catalyst for change. The focus this year is on ‘Ringing the alarm: the tinnitus care crisis’. The report reveals alarming shortcomings in tinnitus care and professional training within the NHS and private audiology sectors. With 8 million people in the UK projected to experience tinnitus by the end of 2025.

Key findings

• Excessive waiting times: NHS patients face waits of up to three years for ENT appointments and over 12 months for hearing aid assistance and psychological therapies. These delays severely impact mental health and quality of life.
• Low priority in the private sector: 36% of private audiologists consider tinnitus care a low priority, with some of the private sector putting profits ahead of patients.
• Non-compliance with NICE Guidelines: Many audiology professionals deviate from established standards, with some offering unaccredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for tinnitus management.
• Insufficient education and training: UK audiology graduates lack clinical experience in tinnitus care, leaving them ill-equipped to address patients’ needs effectively.

What’s next?

Tinnitus UK is urging healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers to implement the following solutions:

• Full adherence to NICE guidelines across NHS and private clinics.
• Mandatory tinnitus-specific training in university audiology programmes.
• Accredited continuing professional development (CPD) for all hearing care professionals.
• Wider adoption of Tinnitus UK’s free resources by healthcare practitioners.

Who does tinnitus affect?

Military personnel are often exposed to noise levels that are likely to be much louder than sounds heard in day-to-day life. We see many veterans and serving personnel who say they are struggling with hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to excessive noise, often without any adequate hearing protection.

In our experience of bringing civil claims on behalf of service personnel and veterans for hearing loss and tinnitus, we are frequently told by our clients that their symptoms can distract them by effecting concentration, preventing their ability to read in a quiet room or fall asleep at night. This can have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing and mental health, raising health issues such as anxiety and depression. Our clients have described the effect of their constant tinnitus symptoms as being ‘’never at peace’’ and ‘I want to put my fingers in my ears to stop the noise’’.

Many of our clients tell us that they have to fall asleep with the television on or need have music playing in the background. However, it is not always practical when a partner is unable to tolerate these coping strategies. Some clients tell us they sleep separately from their partner because of this. This in turn can have a detrimental impact on relationships.

Hearing aids are commonly prescribed to individuals suffering with hearing loss, but they can also reduce the impact of tinnitus symptoms by generating a low level of white noise, or soothing sounds that can mask the noise of the tinnitus. Usually, hearing aids with these advanced features aren’t accessible on the NHS. Unfortunately, these types of aids can cost around £4,000 – £5,000 per pair which can place them out of reach for many veterans.

How can we help you?

If you are experiencing symptoms of tinnitus and hearing loss, even if tinnitus is your main complaint, and you think you may have been exposed to excessive levels of noise whilst serving in the military, it may also be worth giving us a call.