Trusted tinnitus care near you: SoundChoice

SoundChoice is a quality mark, designed to give you clarity and confidence, helping you (and our team!) find providers who are offering tinnitus care that you can trust.

Providers have to meet a set of criteria to ensure they are supporting patients and the wider tinnitus community in the best ways possible, and if they meet these criteria, they can become SoundChoice partners. We show this trust with a tick!

For a full rundown of the programme and how it works, you can read more below.

In case you were worried, Tinnitus UK is not promoting self-funded care as better than NHS care, or as a replacement for it.

SoundChoice exists because many people already choose or need self-funded support, often due to long NHS waits or limited local provision. As the national charity, we are regularly asked, “Is there anywhere near me I can get help?”

SoundChoice gives us a safe, values-based starting point when answering that question, without gatekeeping access behind specific treatments or technologies.

No. SoundChoice is not an endorsement of clinical outcomes or specific treatments.

It is a quality mark showing that a provider has committed to the Tinnitus Charter, six principles focused on accessibility, excellence in care, support for the wider tinnitus community and ethical practice.

It tells us how patients will be treated, not what will cure them – as we know, this can be very different for different people!

For our independent assessment of different treatment options, check out our treatment sheets.

Tinnitus can be different for everyone, and so different things will work! SoundChoice isn’t an endorsement for a specific treatment or technique, only about helping you find providers who work effectively, ethically and empathically.

Treatment costs will vary from partner to partner, and you should always ask in advance for a full, costed treatment plan. Never agree to treatments you can’t afford, as financial pressure can contribute to making tinnitus even worse.

If you are concerned about the cost, you can always find free support here at Tinnitus UK, and publicly-funded treatment via the NHS.

Absolutely not.

Tinnitus UK continues to advocate for strong, accessible NHS tinnitus services.

SoundChoice exists to support people alongside the NHS pathway, not instead of it – particularly where NHS services may be facing delays, are limited, or unavailable locally.

For free support near you, take a look for your local tinnitus support group

SoundChoice is about patient confidence and volunteer confidence, not profit.

That said, there is a £419 annual fee to support administration and governance – not commercial promotion. While Tinnitus UK does offer sponsorship and advertising packages to help support our financial stability, these are clearly labelled to avoid confusion.

Tinnitus UK’s independence and credibility are non-negotiable.

Providers cannot buy the SoundChoice mark.

Providers must show they:

• Offer accessible, specific tinnitus care pathways
• Complete regular, reputable training on tinnitus
• Advocate for the community, promote research and help campaign for change
• Believe in and practice Tinnitus UK’s values of Respect, Integrity, Support and Evolve.

If a provider cannot demonstrate this, they will not qualify as a SoundChoice partner.

More information about these points can be found in the Tinnitus Charter

SoundChoice is not permanent, nor unconditional.

If you have a concern, Tinnitus UK can:

• Review the provider
• Request changes or clarification
• Remove the SoundChoice mark if standards are not upheld

Feedback from the tinnitus community is essential to this. If you have a concern, please raise it formally using our official complaints procedure, and include as much useful detail as you can.

Tinnitus UK recommends everyone seek NHS care first, and we offer loads of free support options if you need them. That’s not changing!

We want to reassure you that:

• NHS support remains the foundation of care
• SoundChoice is optional information, not a recommendation
• Tinnitus UK supports people regardless of the route they choose

Yes – but the needs and challenges associated with both of these groups are very different and it will take much more time to develop something appropriate.

Currently, SoundChoice is only available to independent clinics as we already recommend people explore NHS options as a priority, and are continuing to work with High Street providers in different ways to ensure quality care comes first.

We would love to hear your feedback!

If you have questions or ideas you’d like to pass on, please email them to [email protected].