You’re Not Alone: Reflections on Our Nottingham Tinnitus Support Group

17 hours ago

6 min read

By Dr Jeff Davies, Independent Audiologist, Ear Care Specialists

tinnitus support group in Nottingham — Nottingham Tinnitus Support Group | Ear Car Specialists

Tinnitus is a strange companion. Nobody else can hear it, it's hard to describe, and for many people it arrives with a lot of unanswered questions. It's also far more common than most people realise: an estimated 46,000 or more people in Nottingham live with tinnitus. Yet one of the most common things I hear at our Sherwood clinic is, "I thought I was the only one." That feeling is exactly why the Nottingham Tinnitus Support Group exists.

I chair the group in partnership with Tinnitus UK, the national tinnitus charity. Since starting the group, we've built up a wonderful mix of sessions and a warm, welcoming community, so I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what we've done together, thank everyone who has made it happen, and say a little about why support groups matter so much for people living with tinnitus.

Why tinnitus support groups help

There is currently no cure for tinnitus, but there is a great deal that can be done to reduce its impact on everyday life. Much of that comes down to understanding the condition, learning practical strategies, and changing how we respond to the sound. Support groups are a powerful place for all three to happen.

The research backs this up. A study led by Dr Helen Pryce at Aston University spent time inside tinnitus support groups across the UK, observing sessions, running focus groups and interviewing members. The researchers found that groups build a sense of social connectedness between members, and that this connection appeared to build resilience among people distressed by their tinnitus. Members valued three things most: reliable knowledge and information, a sense of belonging, and the creation and maintenance of hope. Groups also helped people feel more in control of their tinnitus through sharing what they had learned.

Tinnitus UK reports that 97% of people attending tinnitus support groups say their tinnitus improves as a result of attending. A later study of Tinnitus UK's online groups found similar themes: people valued feeling part of a community, being reliably informed, and living better with their tinnitus.

None of this replaces clinical care, and it isn't meant to. What a group offers is something a clinic appointment can't: the chance to sit with people who genuinely understand, because they live with it too. Hearing how someone else got through a bad night, or what finally helped them sleep, can be more reassuring than anything a professional says.

How the Nottingham Tinnitus Support Group works

We meet roughly every month or two, and our sessions take two forms.

Sit-and-chat sessions. These are small, informal and deliberately intimate, and are held at the Ear Care Specialists clinic on Mansfield Road in Sherwood, Nottingham. There's no agenda beyond a cup of tea and a chance to talk. People share where they are with their tinnitus, ask questions, swap tips and support each other. Newcomers are always welcome, and there's never any pressure to speak.

Themed talks and workshops. Every so often we invite a guest speaker to explore a particular topic in depth. These larger sessions are often hosted at the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Ropewalk House in Nottingham city centre. We're lucky to have it on our doorstep: Nottingham's tinnitus research programme is ranked among the leading programmes in the world, so our members can hear directly from the people doing the research.

Tinnitus talks and workshops in Nottingham

Here are just some of the sessions we've enjoyed recently.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for tinnitus – Professor Derek Hoare

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidence base of any tinnitus management approach, and is recommended in the NICE tinnitus guideline. CBT doesn't aim to remove the sound; it helps change the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that make tinnitus distressing. Derek, who leads tinnitus research at the Nottingham BRC, explained how CBT works and what accessing it looks like in practice. It was a fantastic, myth-busting session.

Brain stimulation and tinnitus – Dr Magdalena Sereda

Magda's research looks at neuromodulation: using gentle stimulation of the brain and nervous system to try to change how tinnitus is generated and perceived. She talked us through how these approaches work, what the trials so far have shown, and why, for now, they remain at the research stage rather than routine treatment. It was a real insight into where tinnitus science may be heading.

Mental health and tinnitus – Nicola Wray

We were joined by PhD researcher Nicola Wray, who is exploring the links between tinnitus and mental health. Tinnitus is closely associated with anxiety, low mood and stress, and the relationship works both ways: stress can make tinnitus more noticeable, and tinnitus can add to stress. This was an honest, compassionate session, and it prompted some of the most open conversations we've had as a group.

Expressing tinnitus through art – Dr Marie Thompson, The Open University

One of our most memorable sessions was something completely different. Marie led an art-based workshop inviting members to express their tinnitus visually. How do you draw a sound that nobody else can hear? The results were striking, varied and personal, and several people said that putting their tinnitus onto paper helped them feel a little more in charge of it. It was a lovely reminder that living well with tinnitus isn't only about science.

art inspired by tinnitus — Tinnitus-inspired art and descriptions

Hearing aids and tinnitus – Dr Jeff Davies

I gave a talk on the relationship between hearing loss, hearing aids and tinnitus. Many people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss, sometimes without realising it. Well-fitted hearing aids can help by bringing back the everyday sounds around us, which can make tinnitus less noticeable and reduce the strain of listening. Many modern hearing aids also include built-in sound therapy options. We covered what to expect, what's realistic, and how to get the most out of your devices.

If you're in Nottingham and wondering whether hearing loss could be playing a part in your tinnitus, you can book a hearing assessment at our Sherwood clinic.

Living with tinnitus: a lived-experience workshop – Lars Henriksson

Finally, we welcomed Lars Henriksson, who led a workshop based on his own experience of living with tinnitus. There's a particular kind of credibility that comes from someone who has been there, and Lars shared what helped him, what didn't, and how his relationship with his tinnitus has changed over time. It sparked a lot of discussion and, I think, a lot of hope.

Thank you

A huge thank you to all of our speakers for giving their time and expertise so generously, to the team at the NIHR Nottingham BRC for hosting us, and to Tinnitus UK for their ongoing support. Most of all, thank you to everyone who comes along. The group is only as good as the people in the room, and the warmth, honesty and humour our members bring is what makes it work.

Another tinnitus support group in Nottingham: Tinnitus Mates

Ours isn't the only tinnitus support group in the city. Tinnitus Mates is a separate, informal group for people affected by tinnitus. Members keep in touch through a WhatsApp group and meet in person in a quiet side room at a city centre pub near the Old Market Square tram stop.

I'm not involved with Tinnitus Mates, but I think it's brilliant that Nottingham has a second group. Different groups suit different people, and having more than one option means more people living with tinnitus in Nottingham can find the support that's right for them. You can find their details on the Tinnitus UK support group directory.

Join the Nottingham Tinnitus Support Group

Whether you've had tinnitus for a few weeks or a few decades, and whether you live in Nottingham, elsewhere in Nottinghamshire or further afield, you are very welcome. Sessions are usually free unless stated otherwise, and you don't need a referral. To reserve a place, book online and choose "Group sessions", then "Tinnitus Support Group". Places are limited by room size, so it's worth booking ahead.

Join the mailing list to hear about upcoming meetings and speakers: visit our Tinnitus Support Group page.
Get in touch: call 0115 990 20 82 or email jeff@earcarespecialists.co.uk.
Need support now? Tinnitus UK's free, confidential helpline is available on 0800 018 0527, and their website at tinnitus.org.uk has a wealth of information.

If your tinnitus is affecting your sleep, mood or day-to-day life, please don't struggle alone. Come and say hello. You might find, like so many of our members have, that you're not the only one after all.

Ear Care Specialists

~ Expert Independent Audiology Care with Dr. Jeff ~