The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has been criticised by Tinnitus UK due to excessive waiting times. The advocacy group found that patients seeking referral to ear nose and throat sections of the NHS can wait for up to three years. This is in addition to a one-year wait time for hearing assistance and psychological appointments including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) referrals and talking therapy. Over 65% of surveyed patients claim that these long waiting times affected the quality of their life negatively, according to Tinnitus UK.
However, Tinnitus UK’s report on the healthcare system reveals a larger issue. The rise of unaccredited audiologist-led cognitive behavioural therapy is a growing concern due to an apparent lack of regulations. Education and practice quality were also cited as factors leading to disparities in patient outcomes. The report highlighted that only 12% of private audiology professionals considered tinnitus care “essential,” revealing that UK audiology graduates face inadequate training.
The figures are concerning given that around eight million people will be affected by tinnitus in the UK by the end of 2025, according to CEO of Tinnitus UK, Alex Brooks-Johnson. With millions of people worldwide already suffering from tinnitus, including professional DJs, musicians and attendees of noisy concerts, these findings are well worth taking note of.
Swedish DJ, Alesso shared on Instagram his struggle with tinnitus, apologising for recent show cancellations in a video shared to his followers. While a common condition in the music industry, Alesso explained that he had previously had tinnitus but the condition had returned more severely two months earlier. He expressed the difficulty he faced in managing the issue, which attests to the concerning results presented in Tinnitus UK’s report. The full Tinnitus UK report, titled “Ringing The Alarm,” is available online.
In conclusion, the Tinnitus UK report highlights the considerable waiting times at the NHS and disparities in patient outcomes. The report also draws attention to the rise of unaccredited audiologist-led cognitive behavioural therapy and insufficient training for UK audiology graduates. With a rising prevalence of tinnitus worldwide, individuals in the music industry such as Swedish DJ Alesso have given personal insights into the difficult consequences of coping with the condition
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