How to effectively manage Tinnitus

As a hearing centre, we frequently see patients who suffer from tinnitus, a condition that affects millions of people in the UK. Tinnitus is a condition that causes ringing, buzzing, hissing or other sounds in the ears that can be persistent or intermittent and can vary in loudness and pitch. For many, it can be a debilitating condition that interferes with their quality of life.

Although tinnitus cannot be cured, thankfully it can be treated so that the symptoms are lessened. Read on to find out more.

What Causes Tinnitus?

There are several factors that can contribute to the development of tinnitus. These include exposure to loud noise, high blood pressure, stress and anxiety, and underlying hearing loss.

More than 200 medicines, including aspirin, can also cause tinnitus. If you have tinnitus and you take medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine could be the cause.

Symptoms of Tinnitus

If you suffer from tinnitus, you know how frustrating and distressing it can be. The constant noise in your ears can make it difficult to concentrate, sleep, and even communicate with others. It’s a condition that can leave you feeling isolated and alone.

If you are experiencing tinnitus, you may be hearing a ringing or buzzing sound in your ears. You may also hear a hissing, whistling, or clicking sound. Some people experience it constantly while others may only experience it occasionally.

Tinnitus can also be more noticeable in quiet environments, such as when you are trying to sleep at night. For some people, it can be so severe that it interferes with their ability to hear and communicate.

Tinnitus Statistics in the UK

Nearly everyone has experienced tinnitus at one time or another. For most, it is a passing incident. However, for some, it can be a constant companion. 

According to the British Tinnitus Association, approximately 10% of the population in the UK experiences tinnitus. That equates to approximately six million people. Of those people, approximately 600,000 experience tinnitus that is severe enough to impact their quality of life.

Managing Tinnitus

While there is currently no cure for tinnitus, there are several ways that it can be managed. One of the most effective ways to manage tinnitus is to seek treatment for any underlying conditions that may be contributing to the problem, such as hearing loss or high blood pressure. You may also benefit from sound therapy, which involves listening to sounds or music to distract you from the tinnitus.

Our job, and indeed our focus, is to break that cycle and give you time to recover. Using sound therapy, in combination with informed counselling and hearing aids, we can bring you significant relief. We will help you to change your emotional response to the tinnitus, helping to relieve the stress you feel.

How we create your personalised Tinnitus profile

Through these diagnostic tests, we can help direct our treatments towards your specific needs.

• Video-otoscopy – We will examine your ear canal and identify any obvious obstructions such as wax and any problems with the ear canal or eardrum.
• Ear wax removal – If we determine there is any ear wax blocking the ear canal, this will be removed easily and painlessly using micro-suction.
• High frequency pure tone audiometry – This is performed in our soundproof booth and is used to look at how sensitive your cochlea is to sounds.
• Tympanometry – We test your middle ear function where we can identify any negative pressure, congestion or fluid in the middle ear.
• Speech Discrimination in noise testing – We will test your ability to understand speech with and without background noise, performed in our soundproof room.
• Pitch Matching – This is to understand the frequency of your tinnitus which can help in tailoring therapies for yourself.
• Uncomfortable Loudness level testing – This is used to identify any sounds which could be causing you discomfort. (this is not always performed)

The Treatment Options For You

After your diagnostic tests, we will tailor the following therapies to your individual needs. This will help treat the symptoms of tinnitus you suffer from effectively.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – This is to alter your perception of tinnitus. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects, we will help you focus on the positive outcomes of coping with your ailment.

Hearing aids – These could help to control your tinnitus. Often the underlying cause of tinnitus is due to a hearing loss. We use hearing aids to correct the hearing loss and find that by increasing the ambient sounds, we have a dulling or total masking of the tinnitus.

Sound Therapy – Sound is used to partially/completely cover the tinnitus with the use of both wearable and/or non-wearable devices.

Biofeedback – This is a relaxation technique that tries to change your body’s reaction to stress. This encourages you to control involuntary bodily functions (such as pulse and muscle tension).

By seeking treatment for your tinnitus, you can improve your quality of life and regain control over your day-to-day activities. You can enjoy improved concentration, better sleep, and more fulfilling social interactions. Don’t let tinnitus control your life – take action and seek help today. 

Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

A Peek into Our Clinics in Worcester and Stratford-Upon-Avon

We have two exceptional hearing clinics in the West Midlands, one located in Worcester and the other in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

At both our clinics, we understand the impact that hearing loss can have on one’s quality of life and are committed to providing personalised care that caters to your specific needs.

Our experienced audiologists use state-of-the-art technology to accurately diagnose and treat hearing loss. Read on to get to know more about our hearing centres and the services we provide.

Stratford-Upon-Avon Hearing Centre

Our award-winning hearing centre in Stratford-upon-Avon, which opened in November 2016, is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional hearing care. Our sophisticated interior design is a reflection of our professional attitude towards hearing care.

As soon as you step into our contemporary clinic, our friendly staff will warmly welcome you and provide you with a premium level of care. We prioritise your comfort and well-being while offering bespoke hearing solutions tailored to your unique needs.

With state-of-the-art diagnostic assessments and fitting equipment, our facility provides hearing care that is unparalleled. Our custom-made sound booth allows us to conduct detailed hearing tests, ensuring accurate diagnoses and personalised treatment plans. 

Worcester Hearing Centre

Our award-winning hearing centre opened its doors in November 2011 and is located in the heart of the city centre. Housed in a historic Tudor building, this picturesque location is renowned for its connection to King Charles II, who sought refuge here after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. From the moment you approach the building, its inviting and homely atmosphere will make you feel at ease.

You’ll be greeted by our friendly staff to discuss your hearing problems specific to you, to start the process of getting your confidence back. 

What hearing services do we provide in our Worcester & Stratford-Upon-Avon clinics?

With more than 35 years of experience in hearing aid audiology across Worcestershire and Warwickshire, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality hearing aids and hearing healthcare services. 

Here are some of the hearing services we provide to our patients:

Hearing tests

Do you find it hard to hear conversations when there is background noise? Do you often find yourself having to ask people to repeat themselves? You could be starting to lose your hearing.

Before you can know what treatment may be right for you, you need an in-depth hearing assessment. That’s why at Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon hearing, we offer a hearing test that covers all bases on sale for just £35, saving you 63% from our standard price.

Our hearing tests take around 60 minutes and will allow us to provide bespoke hearing solutions that are tailored just for you.

Learn more about our hearing tests here: https://www.wshearing.co.uk/hearing-tests/ 

Earwax removal

Suffering with blocked ears? We can remove your earwax in one 30 minute appointment.

At both our hearing centres in Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon, we provide a range of ear cleaning services to best suit your condition. These include: micro-suction, endoscopic and irrigation earwax removal.

Attempting to clear earwax from home could lead to further problems; leave it to our registered clinical specialists to prevent further problems in the future. 

Tinnitus management

Did you know that Tinnitus affects 1/8 people? We can help reduce your symptoms.

Although Tinnitus cannot be cured, it can be managed. Our initial assessment can help identify what could be causing your tinnitus so we can work on diminishing the symptoms and put your mind at rest.

Book your Tinnitus Assessment & Test at one of our hearing centres for just £295.

Bluetooth, Rechargeable and Invisible Hearing Aids

At both our hearing centres, we can offer you the finest selection of hearing aids from leading global brands. You can reconnect with the conversation, your family and the world.

Your hearing aids will be customised to your hearing loss. We will ensure that they will deliver the help you need in the situations you need it.

• Bluetooth hearing aids use wireless technology to allow two devices to communicate with each other over short distances. This means you can handle calls, stream your music, listen to podcasts and connect to your TV by streaming the audio directly to your hearing aids.
• Rechargeable hearing aids are similar to how smartphones recharge. Instead of removing the batteries themselves, you simply place your hearing aids onto their charging unit overnight to make your life easier and hassle-free.
• Invisible hearing aids are deep fitting, custom-made hearing devices that sit within the ear or within the ear canal, providing effortless hearing with complete discretion.

Why choose WS Hearing?

• Over 35 years experience.
• We are a family run business with a passion for delivering better hearing solutions in Worcester and Stratford-Upon-Avon.
• As we are not tied to a hearing aid manufacturer, you will get independent and unbiased advice.
• Our premium care plans deliver you everything you need to benefit from your hearing aids, that would likely cost up to £510 per year if you purchased hearing aids from other providers.
• We have state-of-the-art facilities fully equipped with the latest technology ready to offer you a luxury patient experience.
• We have 2 audiologists and a team of hearing care assistants in attendance every day at our hearing centres to help you if you need to pop in.
• 1-1 appointments with the same audiologist to build patient continuity and care.
• You’ll get a 100% refund for your hearing aids if we don’t meet your needs

All of our hearing solutions are bespoke to you. We don’t provide anything off the shelf and pride ourselves on offering personalised care that addresses your unique hearing needs.

Request an appointment at one of our clinics today https://www.wshearing.co.uk/contact/

We look forward to welcoming you to one of our clinics!