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About tinnitus
Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception (awareness) of sound, in one or both ears or in your head, when there is no external sound source. People often describe it as ‘ringing in the ears’, although sounds can vary and are unique to each person.
Most people with tinnitus are not significantly bothered by it. We recommend you make a GP appointment if it does bother you.
Causes
Tinnitus is rarely a sign of a serious health problem.
It is often associated with one of the following:
- hearing loss
- chronic (persistent) exposure to noise
- some medication
- trauma (physical injury)
- ear blockage, for example ear infection or ear wax.
Strategies to help manage tinnitus
The following strategies can be extremely helpful.
Information
You will probably feel better when you find out more about the condition. You will learn that it is common and realise that you are not alone.
Sound therapy
If the noises seem louder at quiet times, particularly during the night, it may help to have some environmental or natural sound in the background. This can be from a CD, a sound therapy system or even a fan or ticking clock.
Relaxation
Learning to relax is one of the most useful things you can do. People who practise relaxation techniques say this can reduce the loudness of their tinnitus and help them to manage it.
Correcting hearing lost
If your tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss, it is often helpful to try and correct this loss with a hearing aid.
Counselling
Techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be helpful, either as a standalone therapy or combined with sound therapy.
About the Tinnitus Support Group
The Tinnitus Support Group is made up of people with tinnitus and audiologists from Kingston Hospital.
Some members of the group are new to tinnitus. Others have long-term experience of it. We can help one another, and support you, by sharing our experiences.
The more you know about your tinnitus, the more you will be able to manage any negative impact of tinnitus and understand activities that can help with the process of ‘habituation’. Habituation is the process that allows you to become less aware of, and troubled, by the unwanted sound.
What it offers
The Tinnitus Support Group offers the following:
- A safe space to talk, listen and be heard without being judged.
- An understanding community of people who know the impact that tinnitus can have.
- General advice on ways to relieve tinnitus. (This is not a substitute for medical advice, but it is a useful addition.)
- News of research into tinnitus.
- Occasional guest speakers who share their expertise and advice.
Tinnitus Support Group meetings
Finding out about meetings
You can find out about our regular meetings by using the Facebook link (see More information section). If you do not use Facebook, you can find out about our meetings by emailing us (see Contacts section).
Who can attend
Anyone with tinnitus can attend, as well as their partners, friends, family and carers.
When and where the group meets
Meetings take place every month. They are usually held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. They start at 6pm and end at around 7.30 pm.
The meetings take place in-person and sometimes online.
Online meetings take place using Microsoft Teams. Face-to-face meetings are held at Kingston Hospital in the Aspen building (Audiology and ENT department). Refreshments are provided at face-to-face meetings.
Contact information
Kingston Hospital Audiology and ENT department
Email: khft.audiology@nhs.net