counselling

Last reviewed 01/2018

  • counselling of patients with tinnitus should ideally be carried out in the setting of a specialist clinic.
  • the important points to emphasize are:
    • the condition is very common
    • it only rarely is indicative of serious disease
    • with time, it becomes less troublesome
    • it alters the emotional wellbeing, hearing, sleep, and concentration of the patient (1)
    • all four of these areas should be adresesed during councelling
    • reassurance should be given with a positive emphasis (2)
      • gradually patients come to accept tinnitus as a part of their lives
  • the clinician can refer the sufferer to the national self-help group, the British Tinnitus Association.

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