Tinnitus: Why You Don’t Have to Struggle Alone

Tinnitus is often described as a constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears. For many, it’s a persistent burden that impacts sleep, concentration, and quality of life.

Recently, The Guardian featured a series of letters and reflections that highlighted both the challenges of tinnitus and the hope that treatment can bring. We found it really insightful, and felt it would make a great edition for our newsletter!

Experiences of Living with Tinnitus

Contributors shared their personal accounts of tinnitus, describing how the condition developed and how it continues to shape their daily lives. One person explained how tinnitus began after exposure to a high-pitch sound and now uses devices that generate white noise to make the symptoms more manageable.

Another recalled developing tinnitus decades ago following time in a noisy workplace without hearing protection, describing the sensation as a constant, swirling noise that is especially disruptive at night. Others spoke about the way tinnitus affects their social lives, making it difficult to follow conversations in busy places or enjoy activities such as watching films.

Collectively, these accounts underline how tinnitus is not just a sound in the ears but an experience that can influence every aspect of life.

A Clinical Perspective: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy

The article also included reflections from leading experts who have pioneered Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT). They emphasised that tinnitus does not need to define someone’s life. While TRT is not an instant solution, it works by helping the brain change its response to tinnitus so that it no longer triggers the same level of stress or anxiety.

Over time, this can make the tinnitus less intrusive and allow individuals to regain a sense of control. This approach has been shown to be highly effective when followed consistently and is now used by audiologists around the world.

Hope for Those Affected

What stands out from the Guardian feature is the dual reality of tinnitus: the significant difficulties it causes, and the progress that evidence-based therapies can offer.

Tinnitus can feel overwhelming, but there are proven management strategies that make a real difference. The important message is that support is available and living with tinnitus does not have to mean being defined by it.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out to an audiologist or tinnitus specialist can be the first step toward relief.

Lenire Therapy

At Byrom Audiology, we are committed to offering the very best solutions for people living with tinnitus, which is why we provide Lenire Therapy. Lenire is a non-invasive, clinically proven treatment designed to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus and make it easier to manage day-to-day life.

Unlike traditional approaches that only mask the sound, Lenire works to retrain the brain’s response by combining gentle electrical pulses to the tongue with customised sound patterns delivered through Bluetooth headphones. This dual stimulation targets the auditory system in a unique way, helping to calm the perception of tinnitus over time.

We use Lenire because it is safe, effective, and backed by strong clinical evidence – with 86% of patients reporting improvements.

As the only certified Lenire Therapy provider between Scotland and Birmingham, Byrom Audiology is proud to make this cutting-edge treatment available to our patients.

Lenire Therapy – Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lenire Therapy suited to certain types of tinnitus?

Yes. We recommend Lenire treatment for patients with subjective tinnitus who are not affected by any contraindications (see below). If you can hear a ringing, buzzing, or feel a tinnitus sensation, please get in touch with us.

Does Lenire Therapy affect hearing aids?

If you’ve been fitted with a hearing aid within the last 90 days, we recommend waiting before starting Lenire treatment, as this settling period helps you adapt to your hearing aid. Once you begin Lenire therapy, we advise removing your hearing aid one hour before treatment as a safety precaution.

What are the signs of tinnitus?

Tinnitus often starts as noise in the ear such as ringing, roaring, hissing, whistling, or buzzing. The sound can be constant or intermittent and varies from person to person.

Is tinnitus serious?

Tinnitus itself is not a disease, but it can be a symptom of an underlying issue. If you are experiencing tinnitus, we recommend booking an appointment with an audiologist for a full assessment.

Does Lenire Therapy for tinnitus work?

Yes. Clinical trials have shown that 80% of people who used Lenire experienced an improvement in their tinnitus symptoms, with benefits lasting for around 12 months after treatment.

Are there any contraindications for Lenire Therapy?

While Lenire is suitable for most people, it is not recommended if you:

• Have a pacemaker, defibrillator, or other active implantable device*
• Are pregnant*
• Have epilepsy or conditions that may cause loss of consciousness*
• Have impaired sensitivity of the tongue**
• Have oral cavity inflammation, sores, or lesions in contact with the Tonguetip**
• Experience intermittent or chronic neuralgia in the head/neck area*
• Have Ménière’s disease* (Lenire has not been evaluated for this condition)
• Have objective source tinnitus
• Wear oral piercings

Sound Therapy

Another important aspect of tinnitus therapy is Sound Therapy, a well-established approach that helps people manage their tinnitus by introducing external sounds to reduce the awareness of internal noise. While it is not a cure, sound therapy can play a key role in lessening the negative impact of tinnitus and improving overall wellbeing, by giving the brain something else to focus on and lowering the perception of the sounds. There are several ways this can work:

• Masking: In quiet environments, tinnitus can feel more intense. Sound therapy introduces gentle background noise - such as soft music, white noise, or nature sounds - that helps to cover or “mask” the tinnitus, much like playing music to drown out traffic outside.
• Distraction: Providing the brain with neutral or pleasant sounds, like calming music or dedicated tinnitus relief tones, helps shift attention away from tinnitus and makes it less intrusive.
• Habituation: With repeated exposure to background sounds, the brain can gradually learn to filter out tinnitus in the same way it adjusts to everyday noises, such as the hum of a busy street or the sound of trains near a railway line.

Sound therapy is flexible, non-invasive, and can be easily incorporated into daily routines. As an alternative to Lenire Therapy - or used alongside it - it provides many patients with an effective way to make tinnitus more manageable and less disruptive in day-to-day life.

To find out how Lenire could help you, call our team on 0114 419 1800 or Book an appointment with Byrom Audiology here

Source: Lenire TENT Clinical. Trials: *https://www.lenire.com/clinical-trials/**

Read the original article in The Guardian here: https://apple.news/AHPISEX-cTvuo3jFQ8bVqGQ