What to do if you have tinnitus

Tinnitus is very common. Many people experience brief tinnitus that lasts seconds or minutes. Some people experience it more often or constantly. 

Tinnitus is rarely a sign of a serious condition, but if it does not go away after a few days, it’s best to see your GP.

When to see your GP

See your GP about tinnitus if:

• you have tinnitus regularly or constantly
• your tinnitus is getting worse
• your tinnitus is bothering you – for example, it’s affecting your sleep or concentration
• you have tinnitus that beats in time with your pulse
• you have tinnitus consistently in only one ear

What happens at the GP appointment

Your GP should ask you to describe what you hear and how often you hear it.

They’ll also ask:

• how your tinnitus affects you
• if you have any other symptoms, such as hearing loss or balance problems
• if you’re taking any medication

Your GP will check for any obvious ear conditions that they may be able to treat, such as an ear wax build up or an ear infection.

They may also arrange blood tests if you have other symptoms that could be linked to your tinnitus. For example, tinnitus can sometimes be related to conditions like diabetes or a problem with your thyroid gland.

If there’s no obvious cause of your tinnitus, your GP should refer you to a hearing specialist. A specialist can do further tests and recommend ways of treating or managing your tinnitus.

If your GP does not agree to refer you

Your GP may not be aware of the impact that your tinnitus is having, or the help that’s available.

It’s important to explain in detail how your tinnitus is affecting your day-to-day life. For example, tell them if:

• it’s making you anxious or affecting your mood
• you’re having trouble sleeping
• it’s affecting your ability to work or do daily tasks

If you still can’t get a referral, you could try to see a different GP.

You also have the option of seeing a private hearing specialist, but you’ll need to pay for this if you don’t have private health insurance.

What happens when you’re referred

You may have to wait several months for an appointment. The waiting time depends on where you’re located.

You’ll usually be seen by either a hearing specialist called an audiologist, or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. They’ll examine you and do tests to see if there are any underlying causes of your tinnitus. You will also have a hearing assessment.

You may be referred to a tinnitus clinic to help you find ways to manage your tinnitus. You may need to travel if there’s not a tinnitus clinic in your local hospital.

Get support with tinnitus

Contact us if you have questions about tinnitus, you need support, or you just want to talk to someone who understands.

If tinnitus is affecting your mental health, you can contact a free 24-hour listening service for support. These services offer confidential help from trained volunteers any time of day or night:

• Call Samaritans on 116 123 or email [email protected]
• Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line

They won’t be able to provide specific information about tinnitus, but you can talk about anything that’s troubling you.