Deaf News: Half of tinnitus patients aren’t referred to specialist care, report finds

Around 50 percent of tinnitus sufferers aren’t being referred to specialist secondary care for their condition, compared to two-thirds of people in March – according to a new report by the British Tinnitus Association (BTA).

This Is My Silence, which saw the charity survey more than 2,000 people with tinnitus, revealed that almost one in four were unable to book a GP appointment at least once to discuss the condition, due to COVID-19 measures.

The findings come just months after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recognised tinnitus as a symptom of COVID-19 and ‘long COVID’.

David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the BTA, said the coronavirus and government measures in response to it have worsened symptoms in high number of people, leading to an “increased demand for support”.

“This extra pressure has exposed the fact that we need far greater investment in secondary care services that support people with tinnitus.

“We need a renewed focus on improving GP and community practitioner support through better training and a standardised treatment method, so that everyone gets the same level of support, no matter who they see,” he said.

Elsewhere, the poll revealed the psychological impacts of tinnitus, including a difficulty concentrating (72%), anxiety (71%) and sleep deprivation (69%).

Almost half of people (45%) experience depression, with one in six having had suicidal thoughts as a result of their tinnitus.

The findings follow the publication of NICE guidance on tinnitus in March, which includes recommendations on referring tinnitus patients to receive further support – including those experiencing mental health issues from the condition.

This is despite the survey suggesting that an appointment with an audiologist or Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist is 1.7 times more likely to reduce stress around tinnitus compared to a meeting with a GP.

Stockdale added: “[The guidance] promised a great deal but the unfortunate timing of its publication – coming less than two weeks before the first national lockdown for COVID-19 – will have significantly diluted its impact.

“That’s why [our] calls, which have been developed in consultation with healthcare professionals from a range of relevant disciplines, are so important.

“The mental health and quality of life impacts of tinnitus are just too great to ignore.”

The full report is available to view online on the British Tinnitus Association’s website.

Photo: British Tinnitus Association.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.