Herts woman living with tinnitus urges for more patient support
The condition affects one in seven adults in the UK
A Hertfordshire woman living with tinnitus is calling on the Government to better fund NHS services providing support to those living with the condition.
Thousands of people with tinnitus are said to be left without adequate support due to long NHS waiting times, a lack of specialist training, and inconsistent care in the private sector.
That's based on a recent report, which sparked reactions from patients up and down the country.
Elisa from Hertfordshire is one of them. She has lived with severe tinnitus for seven and a half years.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, she said: "I remember lying in bed one night, absolutely exhausted, but the noise wouldn’t let me sleep."
Elisa first sought medical advice in 2019 when a persistent ringing in her ears became unbearable. She was referred to an audiologist and later an ENT specialist but was placed on a waiting list for over a year.
When she finally saw a specialist, she was given general advice on managing the condition but no structured treatment plan. With no immediate solutions available, she turned to private healthcare.
"I paid for a private audiology appointment, and the consultant was nice enough, but it was clear tinnitus wasn’t their main focus," she added. "They suggested some sound therapy apps and relaxation techniques, but I felt like I was being brushed off."
The charity Tinnitus UK warns that up to 8 million people in the UK will be affected by tinnitus by the end of 2025, yet healthcare services are failing to meet demand.
Patients are waiting up to three years for ENT appointments, over a year for hearing aid support, and as long as 12 months for psychological help.
There are also issues in professional training, with UK audiology courses lacking dedicated tinnitus education, leaving many graduates unprepared to treat the condition effectively.
The charity warns that tinnitus is more than just an ear problem, with many sufferers experiencing anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties.
Elisa suffered has been suffering with poor sleep and mental health as a result of the condition.
She said: "I'd had several really bad days and I just got into this really hopeless cycle where I found I could just about get up for work and that was because I had a responsibility to my patients.
"I spent most of my time in bed, depressed."
For Elisa, the delays in care and lack of specialist support meant she had to find ways to cope on her own.
“I’ve had to learn how to live with it on my own,” she said. “But no one should have to suffer in silence.”
Along with Tinnitus UK she is pressing for action to ensure that the millions affected receive proper care and support before the situation worsens further.
What does the government say?
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:
“We are clear that the NHS is broken and community health services like audiology have been neglected.
“A crucial part of our 10 Year Health Plan will be moving towards a neighbourhood health service, enabling people to get diagnosed earlier and treated faster, closer to home, and we are committed to slashing waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks.”