UK-Based Tinnitus Advice: What Should My GP or ENT Deparment Do? What Treatments the NHS Do?

[NinaW]

Can anyone in the UK tell me what if any investigations, tests, etc. my GP or ENT department should have done into my tinnitus. I have other ENT problems so have had various tests but I'm not sure if any of them were related to my tinnitus.

Also, does anyone know what treatments the NHS do, and can anyone suggest ways of coping with the general irritation of this constant noise.

 

[Drone Draper]

GP - Look into your ear with an otoscope to rule out wax and infection. They can remove wax if there's enough of it.
ENT - otoscope view, hearing test, bone conduction test, tymponametry, potential referral to MRI if unilateral.

NHS treatments - pretty much nothing. They'll refer you to the BTA. If you have a hearing loss, they could help you with hearing aids. They'll give you advice to seek out CBT, TRT and some general relaxation advices. You could get a referral to a psychologist, you could also get prescribed anti-anxiety/depression/sleeping drugs.

 

[NinaW]

GP - Look into your ear with an otoscope to rule out wax and infection. They can remove wax if there's enough of it.
ENT - otoscope view, hearing test, bone conduction test, tymponametry, potential referral to MRI if unilateral.

NHS treatments - pretty much nothing. They'll refer you to the BTA. If you have a hearing loss, they could help you with hearing aids. They'll give you advice to seek out CBT, TRT and some general relaxation advices. You could get a referral to a psychologist, you could also get prescribed anti-anxiety/depression/sleeping drugs.

Thanks, I haven't had bone conduction test, tymponametry or MRI. Would they still do the bone conduction test if I've no hearing loss? I'll know to demand the other stuff next time I see the ENT specialist.

 

[Contrast]

Can anyone in the UK tell me what if any investigations, tests, etc. my GP or ENT department should have done into my tinnitus. I have other ENT problems so have had various tests but I'm not sure if any of them were related to my tinnitus.

Also, does anyone know what treatments the NHS do, and can anyone suggest ways of coping with the general irritation of this constant noise.

What do you think cause your tinnitus, do you have a history of noise exposure or certain medications?

 

[Drone Draper]

Thanks, I haven't had bone conduction test, tymponametry or MRI. Would they still do the bone conduction test if I've no hearing loss? I'll know to demand the other stuff next time I see the ENT specialist.

As I do have hearing loss and am not medically qualified, I can't say, but in my case, my disinterested ENT did the bone conduction test before the hearing test. So possibly.
The MRI tends to only be if you have a unilateral hearing loss in order to rule out an acoustic neuroma, which is very, very rare. So if your ears are good, I'm going to assume they won't refer you to one - and frankly, a few people here have had spikes from them, including someone who had a perfect audiogram, so PERHAPS it's good if you're not referred.