Private hearing therapy in the UK, by a BAAT-registered therapist.
Behavioural rehabilitation for tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonia, hearing-loss adjustment, auditory processing and paediatric auditory-verbal therapy - with the audiology assessment done properly first.
Indicative pricing
What private hearing therapy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our BAAT-registered network.
In short
£500–£1,100, over six to eight sessions.
| Programme | Indicative range | Typical duration | Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial 2-hour hearing therapy assessment | £180–£300 | 120 min | Same visit |
| Individual follow-up session (45–60 min) | £70–£150 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| CBT for tinnitus programme (6–8 sessions) | £500–£1,100 | 6–8 wks | Rolling |
| Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) full course | £900–£2,200 | 12–18 mo | Long-term |
| Hyperacusis desensitisation programme | £600–£1,400 | 3–6 mo | Rolling |
| Group programme (Living Well With Tinnitus) | £150–£350 | 4–6 wks | Cohort |
Prices vary by therapist, by modality (CBT, TRT, MBTSR), by whether sound generators or hearing-aid adjustments are added, and by whether you attend individually or in a group. NHS Level 3 Adult Hearing Care Services offer hearing therapy free where commissioned, though waiting lists are significant.
The problem
The right therapist, the right model, in the right order.
Hearing therapy sits in an odd gap - audiology diagnoses, hearing-aid shops sell devices, and the rehabilitation that ties it all together is quietly under-served. NHS provision is patchy; private therapists are often confused with dispensers. We fix that.
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Tinnitus that grinds you down?
CBT for tinnitus is NICE NG98 first-line for tinnitus with distress. Six to eight sessions, and most people report substantial improvement.
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Sounds feel painfully loud?
Hyperacusis responds to graded pink-noise exposure and CBT. Loudness discomfort levels typically improve 15–25 dB.
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Not adjusting to hearing loss?
The hearing aid is only half the answer. Adjustment counselling, communication tactics and family involvement do the rest.
When it helps
When hearing therapy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the red flag that means ENT rather than a therapy appointment.
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Bothersome tinnitus
Ringing, buzzing or hissing that intrudes on concentration, sleep or mood. NICE NG98 recommends CBT for tinnitus with distress as first-line.
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Hyperacusis (sound intolerance)
Everyday sounds feel painfully loud. Pink-noise generators and systematic desensitisation improve loudness discomfort levels by 15–25 dB in most.
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Misophonia
Specific trigger sounds - chewing, breathing, pen-clicking - provoke intense anger or distress. CBT-based approach, evidence still evolving.
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Adult hearing-loss adjustment
Struggling with the psychosocial impact of hearing loss, communication in groups, or accepting hearing aids.
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Auditory processing disorder (APD)
Difficulty processing speech despite normal hearing - auditory training, remote-microphone systems, environmental changes.
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Cochlear implant candidacy and rehab
Pre-implant counselling on expectations, and post-implant auditory rehabilitation to make the most of the device.
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Auditory-verbal therapy (children)
For children with hearing loss learning to listen and speak - delivered by specialist Auditory Verbal UK-certified therapists.
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Red flag: sudden or one-sided symptoms
Sudden hearing loss, unilateral tinnitus, pulsatile tinnitus or vertigo needs same-week ENT - not a hearing-therapy booking.
Therapy options
One name, several different therapies.
What each modality on the table actually involves - and which fits which problem.
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CBT for tinnitus
NICE NG98 first-line for tinnitus with distress. Six to eight sessions restructuring the threat response and reducing avoidance.
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Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
Directive counselling plus low-level sound therapy over 12–18 months. 60–80% report substantial reduction in tinnitus distress at 6–12 months.
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Mindfulness-Based Tinnitus Stress Reduction (MBTSR)
An eight-week mindfulness programme adapted for tinnitus - reduces reactivity to the sound rather than the sound itself.
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Hyperacusis desensitisation
Graded pink-noise exposure via ear-level generators, plus CBT to unwind fear of sound. LDLs typically improve 15–25 dB.
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Adult hearing-loss adjustment
Psychosocial counselling, communication tactics, assertiveness training, family involvement, workplace optimisation (Access to Work).
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APD auditory training
Structured listening exercises, remote-microphone systems, and environmental management for auditory processing difficulties.
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Cochlear implant rehabilitation
Pre-implant counselling and post-implant listening practice to bridge the gap between device and understanding.
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Auditory-verbal therapy (paediatric)
Specialist listening-and-spoken-language programme delivered by an AVUK-certified therapist for children with hearing loss.
Safety and eligibility
What to expect - and when therapy is not the right first step.
Hearing therapy is safe, effective and behavioural. The things worth planning are the audiology-first sequence, the home practice, and the red flags that mean ENT before anything else.
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Audiology first, therapy second
Most tinnitus and hyperacusis has a hearing-loss driver. A proper audiogram and - where appropriate - well-fitted hearing aids often halve the distress before therapy even starts.
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Sessions are talking-based
Hearing therapy is behavioural and psychological. No injections, no surgery - the work happens in conversation and in home practice between sessions.
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Home practice is where change happens
Ten to twenty minutes a day of listening exercises, sound-therapy use or CBT worksheets. Skipped practice is the commonest reason therapy stalls.
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Outcomes are measured
HHI-A, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) at baseline, three, six and twelve months. Progress is tracked, not assumed.
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Not right if ENT disease is untreated
Active ear infection, unexplained sudden hearing loss, pulsatile or one-sided tinnitus needs ENT assessment first. Therapy waits until that is settled.
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Severe untreated mental illness
Active severe depression, psychosis or untreated PTSD needs primary mental-health treatment alongside - hearing therapy alone is not enough.
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Charity resources are excellent
The British Tinnitus Association helpline and RNID (formerly Action on Hearing Loss) offer free support, groups and information - worth using alongside private therapy.
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Red flags
Sudden hearing loss (within 72 hours), pulsatile tinnitus, one-sided tinnitus with hearing loss, or vertigo need same-week ENT - not a therapy appointment.
Reading your therapy notes
Your therapy formulation in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever model was chosen, the note your hearing therapist writes after the initial assessment keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Therapy language can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the formulation before your first follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Presenting concern and history
Why you came - tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonia, hearing-loss adjustment - with onset, triggers and previous audiology.
- 02 Assessment
Outcome measures at baseline
HHI-A, THI, TFI, LDL testing where relevant. A clear number to compare against at three, six and twelve months.
- 03 Findings
Formulation and model chosen
The therapist’s formulation of what is maintaining the problem, and which model - CBT, TRT, MBTSR, communication tactics - fits your case.
- 04 Impression
Plan, home practice, review timing
Read this first: number of sessions planned, home-practice tasks, adjuncts (sound generators, hearing aids), and when outcomes are re-measured.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for hearing therapy varies by insurer - often funded when tinnitus or hyperacusis is medically significant, self-pay for adjustment counselling or auditory-verbal therapy. Access to Work funding is available for workplace-related hearing support.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about hearing therapy.
Quick answers on how it differs from audiology, whether it actually works for tinnitus, what a course costs, and when you should see ENT instead.
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What is hearing therapy, and how is it different from an audiology or a hearing-aid appointment?
Audiology assesses and diagnoses; hearing-aid fitting is technology-focused. Hearing therapy is behavioural and psychological rehabilitation - CBT for tinnitus, hyperacusis desensitisation, adjustment counselling, communication tactics. It is delivered by a hearing therapist registered with BAAT (British Academy of Audiology Therapists) and typically BSHAA.
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Does hearing therapy actually work for tinnitus?
Yes, for bothersome tinnitus with distress. NICE guideline NG98 recommends CBT for tinnitus as first-line, and TRT combined with sound therapy achieves substantial reduction in tinnitus distress in 60–80% of people at six to twelve months. It does not silence the tinnitus - it changes your relationship with it.
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How much does private hearing therapy cost in the UK?
Around £180–£300 for a two-hour initial assessment, £70–£150 per 45–60 minute follow-up session. A full CBT-for-tinnitus programme is £500–£1,100, a TRT course £900–£2,200 over 12–18 months. Group programmes (Living Well With Tinnitus) are cheaper at £150–£350.
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How many sessions will I need?
CBT for tinnitus is usually six to eight sessions. Hyperacusis desensitisation runs three to six months. TRT is a longer commitment - 12–18 months of counselling plus sound therapy. Adult hearing-loss adjustment often resolves in four to six sessions.
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Do I need an audiology assessment first?
Yes - always. Most tinnitus and hyperacusis has an underlying hearing-loss driver that a well-fitted hearing aid will substantially reduce. We insist on a current audiogram before booking therapy because it changes the plan and often halves the work.
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Can I get hearing therapy on the NHS?
Some ICBs commission NHS Adult Hearing Care Services at Level 3 (specialist), which includes hearing therapy. Availability is patchy and waiting lists can be many months. The British Tinnitus Association helpline and RNID offer free support in the meantime.
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What about my child with hearing loss - is auditory-verbal therapy the same thing?
Auditory-verbal therapy is a specialist paediatric branch, delivered by therapists certified by Auditory Verbal UK. It teaches children with hearing loss (usually with hearing aids or cochlear implants) to listen and speak.
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When should I see ENT or A&E instead of booking hearing therapy?
Sudden hearing loss (within 72 hours), pulsatile tinnitus (in time with your heartbeat), one-sided tinnitus with hearing loss, or vertigo all need same-week ENT - not a therapy appointment. Active ear infection needs treatment first.