Hearing therapy
Hearing therapists provide a range of services for people with mild to profound hearing loss, hearing over-sensitivity, tinnitus, hearing aid users, cochlear implant patients and people with learning disabilities. Hearing therapists are based in audiology clinics.
Hearing therapists can provide rehabilitation for people newly diagnosed with hearing loss. This can include
- Explanation of the reasons behind hearing difficulties
- Support and help for people with a sudden and acquired hearing loss
- Support with every day problems resulting from hearing loss
- Advice on management of tinnitus, Meniere’s Disease, Obscure Auditory Dysfunction (OAD), vertigo
- Support and help before and after cochlear implants
- Work with people who have a combined sight and hearing loss
- Information about equipment
If you would like to see a Hearing Therapist, ask your doctor for more information.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus can affect people of any age, and it is sometimes, but not always, associated with hearing loss. Tinnitus, or head noises, can be described as noises heard by the individual in the absence of any real external noise. A wide range of noises are heard, such as rushing water, whistles, ringing, hissing, buzzing and grinding. It can happen occasionally, or it can be something that people live with all the time.
Tinnitus is not a disease or illness, and the causes are still not fully understood. Activity in the hearing system creates the noises, which the brain then notices and responds to. Mild tinnitus is common, but severe tinnitus can affect your quality of life. Severe tinnitus can make you feel frustrated and stressed, especially as it can affect sleep. Anxiety over tinnitus can make physical symptoms worse, and a vicious circle can develop.
Treatments
There is no specific cure for tinnitus, but you should go to your GP who will probably refer you to an Audiology Consultant, or Hearing Therapist. Very occasionally, tinnitus can be a symptom of other diseases, so it is advisable to have it checked.
There are many strategies you can learn to help you cope with tinnitus. Some of these include:
- Relaxation techniques
- Keeping occupied
- Masking the tinnitus using other sounds
- Counselling
- Cognitive behaviour therapy
More help and advice
You can get more help and advice from your local hearing therapist or from the following voluntary organisations.
Action on Hearing Loss
Phone: 0808 808 6666 (voice)
Text: 0808 808 9000
Fax: 020 7296 8199
SMS: 0780 000 0360
Email: tinnitushelpline@hearingloss.org.uk
British Tinnitus Association
Ground Floor Unit 5
Woodsgate Close
Sheffield
S8 0TB
Freephone Enquiry Line: 0800 018 0527
Fax: 0114 258 2279
Minicom: 0114 258 5694
Website: www.tinnitus.org.uk
Email: info@tinnitus.org.uk
Cochlear implants
A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that gives the sensation of hearing if you are profoundly deaf. You will need an operation to put it in place.
There are tests that can show if an implant could help you, but it is difficult to predict how successful the implant will be before the operation. Some people will always need to lipread as well as listen. Others will learn to understand speech without lipreading.
Cochlear implants are not suitable for all profoundly deaf people. They may be suitable if you become profoundly deaf after you have learnt to speak. Your hearing nerve must function well, even though your cochlea is damaged. Some people may get on better with high-powered hearing aids, instead of a cochlear implant.
If you want to be considered for a cochlear implant, talk to your GP, who can refer you to an audiology consultant. The consultant can then refer you to a specialist centre for a cochlear implant assessment if it is right for you. At the clinic, you will be told what the operation involves, what the risks are, and about aftercare. There are several organisations that can support people who have cochlear implants.
British Cochlear Implant Group
This organisation represents all the cochlear implant centres and other specialist medical practitioners throughout the UK.
Website: www.bcig.org.uk
Email: info@bcig.org.uk
National Cochlear Implant Association
This is a national association for cochlear implant wearers.
Email: secretary@nciua.org.uk
Website: www.nciua.org.uk
Ear Foundation
This is a national charity supporting people with cochlear implants, their families and supporting professionals.
Phone: 0115 942 1985
Fax: 0115 942 9054
Email: info@earfoundation.org.uk
National Cochlear Implant Users Association (NCIUA)
NCIUA is a forum for cochlear implant users and their families.
National Cochlear Implant Users Association
70 Sycamore Road
Amersham
Bucks
HP6 5DR
Phone: 01494 723 962
Textphone: 01494 723 962
Email: enquiries@nciua.org.uk
Website: www.nciua.org.uk/
Cochlear Implanted Children’s Support Group
PO Box 28843
London
SW13 0WY
Phone: 020 8876 8605
Fax: 020 8241 8477
Email: info@cicsgroup.org.uk
Website: www.cicsgroup.org.uk/[/accordion]