TINNITUS INFORMATION LEAFLET
Symptoms of tinnitus 
Tinnitus is when you hear sound that isn’t caused by an outside source. It can be whistling, buzzing, ringing, hissing, humming or roaring. It can affect one or both of your ears.
 Subjective tinnitus (that only you can hear) usually has a continuous tone. Objective tinnitus (that a doctor examining you may hear) is usually a vibration, clicking or beating sound.
 These sounds may be constant or can come and go. If the sounds are constant, you may notice them more in quiet environments, so it can seem worse when you’re in bed.
Treatment of tinnitus 
For most people, tinnitus improves slowly over time. This is because your brain learns to get used to your tinnitus and it doesn’t have such an impact on your life any more.
 There are no treatments that have been shown to directly cure tinnitus. A doctor may prescribe a treatment to address the underlying cause of your tinnitus. Some of these are outlined in this section.
 Self-help
 If you have tinnitus, you will probably play a big part in managing the condition. Your doctor may suggest some simple things to try that may help manage your symptoms of tinnitus and improve your quality of life.
 • Relaxation will help, so your doctor may advise you on some relaxation techniques.
• For some people, a low level of background noise may help to reduce the perception of tinnitus, though there is not strong evidence for this. You could try leaving a window open, or having a fan or the radio on, and see if this works for you.
• For some people, recorded relaxation sounds, such as rain, the sea or birdsong may work in the same way. Again, there is not strong evidence but it could be something to experiment with.
• Being exposed to loud noise can make your tinnitus worse and may lead to hearing damage. It is best to avoid very loud sounds, such as listening to music on high volume, or using power tools.
• If you are taking certain medicines known to cause tinnitus, your doctor will advise you to stop taking them.
• You may find that it helps to improve your overall health, by getting regular physical activity and enjoying a healthy diet.
 Remember that if you are experiencing tinnitus, the first thing you should do is contact your GP.
 Medicines
 Depression or anxiety may make your tinnitus worse. Treating these conditions may help ease your symptoms and help you manage them better. If your tinnitus is associated with depression or anxiety, your doctor may prescribe you an antidepressant.
 Hearing aids
 If you have tinnitus because of a problem with your hearing, your doctor may give you a hearing aid. This will make external sounds louder, helping to decrease your awareness of the tinnitus. Hearing aids help to relieve tinnitus in around half of all cases where the problem relates to hearing loss.
 Masking devices
 If you have good hearing, your doctor may give you a masking device, also called a noise generator. This usually fits to your ear like a hearing aid and produces a constant low-level noise or tone, masking (covering up) the tinnitus. It is thought that this also helps with the process of your brain getting used to the tinnitus. Some people find that masking devices cause problems with hearing while they’re using them.
 Tinnitus retraining therapy
 A doctor may refer you for tinnitus retraining therapy. This is an approach that combines the use of sound therapy with counselling sessions. The aim is to help with the process of your brain getting used to the tinnitus.
 Sound therapy involves using a masking device (see above) or similar equipment. The device will provide low-level noise or tone for a set amount of time each day.
 The counselling aims to increase your awareness and understanding of tinnitus and the negative feelings you associate with it. It may also help you deal with any stress you’re having. More research is needed, but evidence suggests tinnitus retraining – where you have counselling and sound therapy together – may be a more effective approach than sound therapy on its own.
 How often you attend sessions will depend on how bad your tinnitus is. Tinnitus retraining therapy usually takes one or two years to work properly. It has been shown to have positive results for most people.
 Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
 If your tinnitus is causing anxiety, disrupting your life or stopping you doing the things you enjoy, your doctor may refer you for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The aim of CBT is to help you think differently about the condition and achieve a more positive attitude. It also addresses any aspects of your behaviour that might be making the condition worse. Research suggests that it doesn’t help reduce the loudness of the sounds you hear. CBT can, however, help teach you coping techniques to deal with any negative feelings and change how you think about tinnitus. It may help to improve your quality of life and it has a positive effect on how you cope with tinnitus.
 Surgery
 For most people, there is no form of surgery that will help with tinnitus. However, if your tinnitus is caused by a physical problem, for example, a growth near your ear, a surgeon may recommend having the growth removed.
 Complementary therapies
 Complementary therapies sit outside of conventional medicine, and there is little or no scientific evidence that they are effective. However, there is no harm associated with most of them and some people find them effective.
 In some situations, your doctor may recommend complementary therapies to promote relaxation, to relieve the stress that tinnitus may cause. One option is acupuncture, a therapy that involves inserting needles into your skin at certain points. Your doctor may also advise you on some relaxation techniques, to help ease any anxiety associated with your tinnitus.
There are a range of other complementary therapies that may work for you.
Can tinnitus affect my sleep? 
Everyone experiences tinnitus in different ways. Tinnitus causes sleep deprivation in around 1 in 20 cases, but there are things you can try to help yourself get a good night’s sleep. People with tinnitus often have some difficulty sleeping.
 If you feel stressed or anxious about tinnitus, you’re more likely to suffer from insomnia.
 If you have trouble sleeping, there are things you can do to get a good night's sleep.
 • Reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake, especially before bedtime.
• Have a regular bedtime and a routine that you know helps you relax before bed.
• Make sure your sleeping environment is comfortable.
 When you’re in bed there are things you can do that may distract you from the tinnitus.
 • Listen to tranquil music or keep a window open.
• Do breathing exercises to help you relax and fall asleep.
ACTION ON HEARING LOSS
For advice on hearing loss and tinnitus
Information Line 
 Our Information Line offers free confidential and impartial information on a whole range of subjects relating to deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus.
 
Telephone: 0808 808 0123 (freephone)
 Textphone: 0808 808 9000 (freephone)
 SMS: 0780 0000 360
 Email: informationline@hearingloss.org.uk
BRITISH TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
We are always happy to hear from you with your questions on tinnitus, feedback on the website or our activities, or anything else that you'd like to contact us about.
We will try to respond to you as quickly as we can - please bear in mind our office hours are Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm.
If you'd like to speak to a member of our Helpline team, you can do so by calling 0800 018 0527 Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm.
Plymouth Tinnitus Support Group
About the group
 The Plymouth Tinnitus Support group has been set-up to provide current, up to information about tinnitus treatment and management for patients in the South West. The group will strive to create a friendly, informal forum for patients and family members to ask questions about tinnitus.
 Where the group meets
 The Business Centre
2 Cattedown Road
Plymouth 
PL4 0EG 
When the group meets
 Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month, 7-8:30pm. 
Please contact Alan or Kevin to confirm your attendance.
 How to find out more
 Organisers: Kevin Carlyon and Alan Stokes
Phone: 07766 707112
Email: info@plymouthhearingcentre.co.uk or horizonplymouth@gmail.com