About tinnitus

Tinnitus is unique to the person experiencing it. But ultimately it is the sensation of hearing a sound when there is no external source for that sound. Someone with tinnitus may hear ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or other noises. Tinnitus can be there all the time or come and go. The volume of someone's tinnitus can vary from one episode to the next.

What to expect if you've been referred to Audiology

We have a dedicated team of audiologists with specialist training in tinnitus. We are able to advise, support and counsel anyone experiencing difficulty in managing their tinnitus.

We currently offer advice on the awareness of tinnitus and how to manage this appropriately. We also offer advice on relaxation, breathing techniques, the use of equipment to help where necessary and where to obtain these. We try to offer the most appropriate information based on the most current research.

We also provide advice on external agencies, locally and nationally, who may offer support alongside our management advice. For some, we may consider hearing aids or noise generators, depending on the outcome of the assessment, for someone with tinnitus.

Individuals can be seen at University Hospital North Durham or Darlington Memorial Hospital. Initial assessments can take up to 1 hour to complete. We will try to answer any questions you may have throughout the appointment and an information pack is provided for you to take home.

Subsequent appointments may be required depending on your circumstances and these will be arranged during this initial assessment or from a returned questionnaire which will be posted to you when you have had time to try the strategies suggested. After any assessment, all relevant information will be passed to the necessary professionals as required.