What is tinnitus?
What is hyperacusis?
What causes hyperacusis?
What causes tinnitus?
What should I do if I have tinnitus or hyperacusis?
What can be done?
What will happen in Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Therapy Clinic (THTC)?
Why to use the therapy service offered at THTC?
How to make an appointment for tinnitus and hyperacusis counselling?
Where to get more information about tinnitus and hyperacusis?
Where to get more information about Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Therapy Clinic
(THTC)?
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a noise that you hear in your ears or your head that other people cannot
hear. It is a quite common condition and almost 30% of the population experience
tinnitus at some stage during their lives.
What is hyperacusis?
Hyperacusis is a health condition that is characterized by hyper-sensitivity to loud
noises. For a patient experiencing hyperacusis, moderate to high level environmental
sounds become uncomfortable, annoying and painful. Hyperacusis is very common in
people experiencing tinnitus.
What causes hyperacusis?
The underlying mechanism of hyperacusis is still not known. It has been assumed that
the origin of hyperacusis is due to the excessive amplification of sound stimulation
through the auditory nervous system in the brain. Hyperacusis has been reported in
patients with various medical conditions (e.g. facial paralysis, head trauma, acute
acoustic trauma, stapedectomy, depression, migraine, etc.) as well as in people with
no hearing or general health condition.
Hyperacusis can have a great impact on daily life of the sufferers, and preclude them
from social interactions, work and free time activities.
What causes tinnitus?
Tinnitus can be symptom of various ear conditions (e.g. ear infection, ear wax,
eardrum perforation, hearing loss etc). In some people once the ear condition is
treated then the tinnitus will get better. However, tinnitus in many people is not
related to a distinct ear disease. For some people tinnitus becomes very distressing
and severely affects their quality of life.
What should I do if I have tinnitus or hyperacusis?
 The best advice is to see your GP who will examine your ears and will provide
an appropriate treatment if required.

If there is any indication of an ear disease your GP may also refer you on to an
Ear-Nose and Throat specialist for further investigations.

If you have “bothersome” tinnitus or hyperacusis which is not related to a
distinct ear disease then your GP may refer you to THTC for tinnitus and
hyperacusis counselling.
What can be done?
 Ear wax can be removed, ear infection can be treated with antibiotics, ear
drum peroration can be repaired and hearing aids can be fitted to improve
hearing.

If tinnitus/ hyperacusis are not related to an identifiable ear condition then it is
unlikely that any medication or operation will help. Nevertheless, there are
different ways to help you to cope well with your tinnitus or hyperacusis and
to minimize their effects. Research studies show that tinnitus retraining
therapy (TRT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) significantly reduce
the effect of tinnitus on your life and subsequently reduce the perception of the
tinnitus. TRT and CBT have also been shown to be useful in improving
hyperacusis.
What will happen in Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Therapy Clinic (THTC)?
All the patients referred to THTC will undergo a thorough tinnitus and hyperacusis
assessment and will be offered tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), cognitive
behavioural therapy (CBT) or a combination of both. Patients will be referred on to
other specialties if appropriate (i.e. ENT, audiological physician, or psychologist).
Why to use the therapy service offered at THTC?
The unique feature of the therapy programme offered at THTC in Royal Surrey
County Hospital is in the nature of the counselling provided. The retraining
counselling involves structured educational sessions during which patients are given
detailed information about their tinnitus/ hyperacusis and how to manage it.
Moreover, the counselling sessions are client-centred and designed to suit the specific
needs of individual patients. You will be seen by a highly-qualified audiologist who is
a tinnitus and hyperacusis expert.
How to make an appointment for tinnitus and hyperacusis counselling?
If you are experiencing tinnitus or hyperacusis then you need to see your GP who may
refer you for counselling.
Where to get more information about tinnitus and hyperacusis?
To read more about tinnitus and hyperacusis please click on the link bellow.
www.tinnitus.org.uk
Where to get more information about Tinnitus & Hyperacusis Therapy Clinic
(THTC)?
To get more information regarding the protocol of THTC at Royal Surrey County
Hospital you may contact Mr. Hashir Aazh.
Corresponding address:
Mr. Hashir Aazh, Audiologist & Tinnitus Specialist, Audiology Department,
The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford,
GU2 7XX , United Kingdom, Tel: 01483 571122 (Ext. 4653)
Email: hashir.aazh@nhs.net