Psychology and Hearing

 

How can a psychologist help?

 

​Hearing disorders like tinnitus (“ringing in the ears”) and hyperacusis (an extreme sensitivity to everyday sounds) can cause significant distress. Alongside auditory symptoms, many individuals experience irritability, anxiety, tension, depression, sleep disturbances, and difficulties concentrating. For some, these challenges can signifcantly disrupt daily life.

 

Although hearing disorders like tinnitus and hyperacusis are not psychological conditions in themselves, a range of psychological techniques can be used to help reduce the distress associated with these conditions. For disorders such as tinnitus, psychological strategies can help reduce awareness of the tinnitus sound.  Research demonstrates the efficacy of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)  - in managing tinnitus and hyperacusis. 

 

Not everyone that experiences tinnitus finds it distressing - what makes one person able to cope with tinnitus whilst for another tinnitus significantly affects their quality of life? CBT examines your thought patterns, emotions and behaviours and how these impact your experience of tinnitus. This is especially important in tinnitus as the auditory system does not comprise solely of the ears. Many other parts of the brain are also involved in 'hearing' - including those associated with memory and emotion. Understanding how the auditory system functions, how emotions and other parts of the brain are involved in 'hearing' helps us understand tinnitus and what we can do to manage it.

 

At Psychology and Health you will undergo an initial assessment and the course of therapy will be explained to you. As well as CBT techniques, other therapeutic approaches are often used, depending on the specific characteristics and needs of the individual. The goal of therapy is not to 'cure' the tinnitus but to reduce the distress it causes and to help you reach a stage where tinnitus is less of a problem to you and your awareness of tinnitus sound reduces. To read more about tinnitus and hyperacusis click here.

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