Tinnitus UK, the leading UK charity dedicated to supporting individuals with tinnitus, marks the start of Tinnitus Week with the publication of a comprehensive report, Ringing the Alarm: The tinnitus care crisis, exposing alarming gaps in tinnitus care and professional training across the NHS and private audiology sectors. With 8 million people in the UK estimated to be affected by tinnitus by the end of 2025, this report highlights an urgent need to address this growing public health issue.
Key report findings:
- Long NHS waiting times
Patients face waits of up to three-year for ENT appointments and over a year for hearing aid assistance, significantly impacting their mental health and quality of life. Patients can also wait up to 12 months for psychology and talking therapy referrals. - Tinnitus has a low priority in the private sector
Tinnitus care is not prioritised within the private audiology sector. 36% of private audiology practitioners reported that tinnitus care is a low priority for them. - Deviation from NICE Guidelines
There is widespread non-compliance with NICE guidelines in both NHS and private audiology clinics leading to was observed, including unaccredited delivery of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for tinnitus patients by hearing health professionals. - Educational deficiencies
UK university audiology programs lack tinnitus-specific clinical training, leaving graduates underprepared to help patients effectively manage tinnitus.
The calls to action
To combat these challenges, Tinnitus UK is advocating for:
- Full implementation of NICE guidelines across all hearing healthcare providers.
- Standardised and accredited continuing professional development (CPD) programs.
- Enhanced university curricula with mandatory tinnitus-specific clinical training.
- Broader utilisation of Tinnitus UK’s resources by healthcare professionals.
Sonja Jones, clinical audiologist and author of the report says:
"The findings reveal a dire need for change. Delayed care and insufficient training are leaving tinnitus patients without the support they desperately need, causing further distress and additional strain on mental health services. This report is a call to action for the entire audiology community."
Alex Brooks-Johnson, CEO Tinnitus UK says:
“An estimated 8 million people in the UK will be affected by tinnitus by the end of this year. Tinnitus UK is calling for the greater collaboration across the whole audiology sector to elevate tinnitus care to help minimise patient distress and the escalating associated healthcare costs.”
Failure to address the disparities in tinnitus care across the UK’s hearing health sector risks exacerbating patient distress, overburdening healthcare systems, and perpetuating health inequalities for millions of people across the UK.
About Tinnitus UK
Tinnitus UK is the only charity in the UK dedicated to providing tinnitus support services, via our helpline (telephone, web services, SMS, and email), support groups, forum and world-class information. Our support services offer a lifeline for people living with tinnitus, with over half of our callers stating they better understand tinnitus after speaking with one of our advisers.
The charity, which relies on donations, also provides essential resources and support for clinicians and the research community. You can find out more by visiting our website: tinnitus.org.uk
For further information, interviews and advance copy of the full report contact Jo March on Joanna@tinnitus.org.uk or call 07910 71610
The report will be available to download on Monday 3 February at www.tinnitus.org.uk
