RNID: For deaf and hard of hearing people.

Don’t think that there is nothing you can do about your tinnitus. There are plenty of ways to help you manage it.

Help from your GP

Visiting your GP is crucial because your tinnitus may be caused by a condition that is easily treatable, such as an infection or excess earwax.

Once your GP has checked your ears, they may refer you to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department at your hospital.

Help at the hospital

First, you'll see a specialist at the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department. The specialist will give you a check-up to see if there are any obvious causes of your tinnitus. They then may suggest a referral to a specialist tinnitus centre or clinic, but this will depend on where you live. Some areas may offer limited tinnitus services and some may have none at all.

As part of tinnitus management you may be offered:

You can expect to wait up to 18 weeks from visiting your GP to seeing a specialist.

Hearing aids

If you have a hearing loss, using a hearing aid may help tinnitus by:

  • helping to compensate for your hearing loss
  • stopping your ears straining to hear
  • increasing the information available to the brain by picking up background sounds around you.

All these will help distract you from paying attention to your tinnitus. Sometimes hearing aids can take some time to get used to, particularly if it is your first one.

More about hearing aids.

Self-help

Not everyone with tinnitus needs professional help, there are a number of things you can do to manage your tinnitus yourself.

  • Stress can make tinnitus worse, so try to keep your stress and anxiety levels low through relaxation techniques.
  • Complementary therapies may also help to control stress and so help you manage your tinnitus.
  • If you are struggling to get to sleep, try listening to ambient sounds – for example, relaxation CDs.
  • Some people find joining a support group useful. These groups are often run by a professional who has had experience dealing with tinnitus or someone with tinnitus themselves. You can share experiences and swap coping strategies with others. Contact RNID Tinnitus Helpline for details of your nearest support group.
  • Share your experiences with others on our Tinnitus Forum.

Read more everyday tips on our tune out tinnitus site (external link, opens new browser window).