Tinnitus Week 2024
In December 2023, Tinnitus UK conducted a study involving 478 people living with tinnitus to delve into the experiences and challenges people encounter in accessing healthcare support for the condition.
- Over one in five respondents experienced thoughts of suicide or self-harm in the last year.
- More than 8 out of 10 reported low mood or anxiety, with 7 out of 10 feeling hopeless or helpless.
- 85.7% reported sleep disturbances.
- The emotional toll is significant, with 68.4% reporting low self-esteem and 54.9% struggling to think rationally.
Tinnitus is also linked to social isolation, impacting relationships and daily life, with two-thirds of respondents avoiding contact with friends, minimising social activities, or facing difficulties at work.
Despite National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines introduced in March 2020, substantial challenges persist in healthcare support for tinnitus sufferers.
- Half of the respondents secured GP appointments within a week, but 16% waited over a month.
- Referrals to secondary care decreased to 57.9%, with 11.7% not offered a referral.
- Waiting times for secondary care appointments have increased, with the number of people waiting over a year tripling from 2019 to 2023, to 1 in 6 facing waits of more than 12 months.
- Limited mental health support is available, with only 5% offered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Tinnitus UK are calling for immediate action:
- An evaluation of secondary care services and increased investment from commissioning bodies where necessary.
- Implementation of a standardised nationwide management model for tinnitus.
- Increased tinnitus education for medical professionals.
Support and Information:
Tinnitus UK support line: Open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
0800 018 0527 (freephone) or text: 07537 416841
Halton Sensory Services offer support and advice, both practical and emotional, from trained staff on ways in which people living with Tinnitus can support themselves to learn more about the condition.
Tinnitus Support Group:
Offer an informal get together to share experiences with other people, access information and get support on managing Tinnitus. The groups are supported by trained Tinnitus Advisors who can offer one to one support when needed.
Meeting the 1st Thursday of every month, alternating between Runcorn & Widnes.
Contact Wendy Edwards for more information:
0151 511 8801 or email: Wendy.Edwards@deafnessresourcecentre.org
Information on medical appointments and treatments:
- How to get the most of your GP appointment video
- How to get the most out of your ENT appointment video
- A list of all the treatments currently reviewed by Tinnitus UK: Treatments Archive - Tinnitus UK
A Tinnitus Biobank could allow us to understand the condition much better and answer many questions that, thanks to chronic underinvestment, so far remain unanswered.
