Hearing Therapy appointments are for people who may be having difficulty managing their hearing loss, and would benefit from emotional support and advice. Advice may include technical information about additional listening devices that could be useful for hearing better in different situations specific to your needs. Specialists are also able to give information about further services that may be helpful for you.

Download our Hearing Therapy patient leaflet.

Frequently asked questions

Why might I need a hearing therapy appointment?

Hearing Therapists help people with an acquired hearing loss. Hearing Therapists are trained to support people in maximising the ability to manage their hearing loss in many different situations. 

There are many possible causes of hearing loss. A temporary hearing loss may be due to a cold, wax or an infection. A permanent hearing loss may be due to genetics, noise exposure, disease, medications or age. Many people, as they get older, develop age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) and may benefit from using hearing aids. Your GP has referred you to us for help with your hearing. The referral to Hearing Therapy may have come from the Audiologist you have already seen or direct from the ENT department (Ear, Nose and Throat).

What preparation do I need to do?

Before your visit if you have any special communication requirements please contact us as soon as possible, i.e. if you require a specific interpreter/British Sign Language (BSL) or other please let us know.

During your visit, you may be asked about your hearing history. If you do require a hearing aid you may also be asked some additional questions about your ability to hear in some everyday situations.  We will also ask about any other situation in which you have difficulty and where it is important for you to hear. It would be very helpful if you could consider what your answers to the questions might be before your visit.

Can I bring someone with me?

If you would like to be accompanied by a friend, relative or carer we would welcome this. It can be very helpful having someone with you for extra support. It can make all the difference to putting all the information into practice and we would recommend this wherever possible.

Who will I see for my hearing appointment?

You will see a qualified hearing specialist called an Audiologist/Hearing Therapist. They will be registered with either the Health Professionals Council or the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists. These are the organisations responsible for ensuring that all Audiologists/ Specialists are competent and appropriately trained. As a teaching hospital you may on occasion have a student Audiologist/Clinical Scientist present on a clinical placement with us from their University. If you prefer not to have a student present then please inform us prior to your appointment date to enable us to schedule accordingly.

What happens during the appointment?

Hearing Therapy is a talking therapy where we will assist in whatever way we can and refer onto other relevant agencies on your behalf as agreed with you. 

Additional equipment may be recommended to support your needs both in work and at home and we can advise on this.

The specialist may examine your ears using an otoscope. Sometimes it is necessary to do further tests. The specialist will explain these to you at the time should this be necessary. Should hearing aids be beneficial for you this will be discussed and the best option moving forward put into action.   When the tests are completed, the specialist will explain the results to you and discuss the options that you have.  This might be a referral onto ENT or back to your GP or other agencies as appropriate.

What happens next?

Following your appointment a report detailing the outcome and discussions will be sent to the referrer/GP/ and others as agreed (please inform us if you require a copy).

You may be asked to follow a program of self-management. Information and advice will be given regarding this. 

A further appointment will be offered as appropriate.

What if I can't find the answer to my questions on this website?

If you have questions not answered here please don't hesitate to contact us for further information. 

Telephone:0117 342 5854

Email: audiology.dept@uhbw.nhs.uk

We welcome any comments or feedback about your appointment, as this helps us make changes to patient care.

Please note emails sent to Audiology.dept@uhbw.nhs.uk are insecure.

 

Tinnitus is the experience of hearing noises that are not present in the environment. Many people hear these noises but they do not find them troublesome. However some people have bothersome or intrusive tinnitus.

Tinnitus Therapy is a type of therapy which supports people who are finding that their tinnitus is negatively impacting on their quality of life. There are many ways of managing tinnitus which can help to reduce how bothersome it is. Tinnitus Therapy sessions will help you to learn about tinnitus and you will be supported in finding methods of managing it so that you can work towards reducing any negative impact of tinnitus on your life.

Download our Tinnitus Rehabilitation leaflet here.

Hyperacusis Therapy

Hyperacusis is a sensitivity to sound. It is common to have sensitivity to loud sounds. However Hyperacusis Therapy may be needed if the sensitivity to sounds is negatively impacting a person's quality of life. Hyperacusis Therapy aims to support people in working towards reducing their sensitivity to sounds.

 

Frequently asked questions

Why might I need a Tinnitus or Hyperacusis Therapy appointment?

We have received a referral stating that you need tinnitus or hyperacusis support.  This may have followed a GP or Ear Nose & Throat (ENT) appointment.

If you feel this appointment is not needed please let us know.

What appointment will I be offered?

You may be offered a group tinnitus information session or a 1-1 appointment. Please let us know if you would prefer to be seen in a 1-1 session rather than as part of a group. If you attend a group session you will also be offered a 1-1 session following this.

What happens during the group tinnitus session?

You will be seen in a small group. A Hearing Therapist/Senior Audiologist will present information on tinnitus and tinnitus management strategies. You will be given the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have. You will also be given some information leaflets to take away with you.

Following your group session, you will be asked if you would like a 1-1 appointment with a Specialist Audiologist/Hearing Therapist to discuss your tinnitus and explore individual management strategies.

What preparation do I need to do?

Before your visit if you have any special communication needs please contact us as soon as possible, i.e. if you need a specific interpreter/Bristish Sign Language (BSL) signer or other please let us know.

If you are late for your appointment, it may not be possible to see you and the appointment may need to be rearranged.

Can I bring someone with me?

If you would like to be accompanied by a friend, relative or carer we would welcome this.  It can be very helpful having some extra support. It can make all the difference to putting the information into practice and we would recommend this wherever possible.

Who will I see for my 1-1 tinnitus or hyperacusis assessment?

You will see a trained specialist called an Audiologist/Hearing Therapist. They will be registered with either the Health Care Professions Council or the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists. These are the organisations responsible for ensuring that all Audiology professionals are competent and appropriately trained.

As a teaching hospital you may on occasion be seen by a student Audiologist on a clinical placement with us from their University. If you prefer notto be seen by students then please let us know before your appointment date to enable us to rearrange our schedule.

What happens during the appointment?

The specialist may examine your ears using an otoscope and sometimes it is necessary to do further tests. The specialist will explain these to you at the time should this be needed.  During your visit, you will be asked a number of questions about your hearing/tinnitus history.  A questionnaire may be used to highlight the areas of most need. Based on this we will outline options, tactics and strategies for self-management of your tinnitus or hyperacusis.

What happens next?

We usually plan a follow-up in 3 months to see how you have been getting on with using the tinnitus or hyperacusis management strategies that we discussed during your appointment.

If a hearing aid or other device is recommended and you agree to this an appropriate appointment will also be made for this to be carried out.

 A report giving information on your treatment plan will be sent to the referrer/your GP. Please let us know if you would like a copy of your report.

Following this appointment we may feel a referral to ENT/GP or other agencies may be appropriate for additional support. We will discuss this with you before any referral is made. You can decline to be referred on to another service.

Where can I find additional support or information?

• Tinnitus UK-  Tinnitus UK (previously know as the British Tinnitus Association) website is a good source of clear and accurate information about tinnitus. Additionally Tinnitus UK have a confidential helpline: 0800 018 0527. The team answering calls are trained to be able to provide information on tinnitus, as well as offer emotional support. Alternatively you can email: helpline@tinnitus.org.uk

What if I can't find the answer to my question on this website?

If you have any questions not answered by this FAQ section please don't hesitate to contact us for further information.

Telephone:0117 342 5854

Email: audiology.dept@uhbw.nhs.uk

We welcome any comments or feedback about your appointment, as this helps us to make changes to patient care.

Please note emails sent to Audiology.dept@uhbw.nhs.uk are insecure.