Dr Veronica Kennedy Audiovestibular Physician and Vice Chair of the BTA Professional Advisers’ Committee reviews Living with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis by Dr Laurence McKenna, Dr David Baguley and Dr Don McFerran.

(This review was previously published in Quiet, the Journal of the British Tinnitus Association)

Another self help book on tinnitus. There are thousands of self help books on the market already, is this bringing anything new or different to the field? Well, actually I believe it does. This is not a book written by an individual who has had tinnitus presenting a single view point on what helped that individual. This is a book written by professionals who have seen many people with tinnitus and know the wide variety of ways tinnitus can present and affect people.

The book is presented in two parts. The first part of the book, ‘Defining the Problem’, provides information about tinnitus and hyperacusis to help the reader understand more about how and why these conditions can be a problem. The second part looks at what to do about them. While you can dip into any chapter, the information about tinnitus and hyperacusis, and hopefully understanding, builds as you go through the book.

In the first part of the book there are helpful descriptions about mechanisms of tinnitus and hyperacusis. This part also looks at causes of these conditions and the therapies currently available. It also looks at the impacts of tinnitus and hyperacusis. The chapter on impacts is especially helpful as it explains the processes of how vicious circles develop that can lead a person to be markedly affected by these conditions.

Part 2 of the book, ‘A Programme for Recovery’, provides practical information on dealing with the tinnitus and hyperacusis and the problems which can be associated with these conditions. There are chapters on sound therapy and relaxation. There is a clearly explained cognitive behavioural therapy approach which takes the reader through a step by step guide to dealing with the tinnitus and hyperacusis. There is also a chapter devoted to sleep difficulties as sleep is a problem for many with tinnitus.

Living with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis is a very useful book. It provides clear models of the mechanisms of tinnitus and hyperacusis and presents well explained approaches and strategies which many people have found helpful. It is a book I would be happy to recommend for anyone with tinnitus.