The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

Tinnitus is a difficult illness for people who don’t have it to understand. Articulating the particular flavor of distress to someone who doesn’t have it is inherently difficult. Being “driven to madness” by noise is an affliction that can be difficult to garner empathy with – Van Gogh anecdotes aside. That’s why it’s important to seek out help and to seek out psychological support. I’m heartened to see the growth and availability of support groups in this regard.

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) is launching a new six-week management course in the city on January 15, aimed at building coping techniques, confidence and support for people who may be struggling with the condition.

Tinnitus is the experience of sounds that have no external source. Most commonly, it is described as ringing or buzzing in the ears, but people describe a wide range of sounds including whooshing, hissing, whirring, clicking and occasionally the sound of muffled conversation or music.

More than 50,000 people are thought to experience tinnitus in the Sheffield area, with an estimated 5,000 people finding it is affecting their quality of life.

Participating in the course will not ‘cure’ tinnitus, or have an immediate impact on the volume, but will enable those involved to better understand the role of thoughts, behaviours and emotional responses in their experience of tinnitus. Sessions will be held in small groups (6-10 people) and will aim to equip participants with the tools and approaches they need to manage tinnitus effectively.