Why should I attend Tinnitus Adviser Training?

If you are unsure if Tinnitus Adviser Training is the right fit for you, we spoke to Dr Gladys Sanda, Tinnitus expert & course leader, a few questions to give you a run down on what the course will provide.

What helped you early in your tinnitus journey?

Learning and observing other tinnitus specialists who work with patients day in and day out. Most of the skills that matter, I learned from them, not from a textbook. Willingness and openness helped too. Tinnitus management asks you to be a detective. You have to think outside the box.

If there was one thing you could tell every audiologist, ENT and GP who sees tinnitus patients, what would it be?

Many patients struggle to believe they can get better. Your job is to give them education, hope and accurate signposting. We tell clinicians to stop saying “there is nothing that can be done”, but we rarely tell them what to say instead. So here it is: “Many people live well with tinnitus, and there are people who can help you.” Then point them to the right place to get that help.

What do you think the biggest barriers are to effective tinnitus care in the UK?

Truthfully, it is the lack of training. Too few healthcare professionals can provide effective tinnitus management. Patients are left not knowing where to turn.

Why is tinnitus adviser training so important?

One in seven people live with tinnitus. There is help available, and we have a responsibility to give patients that support. Training advisers means more people know where to send them.