It’s tinnitus week 2025
Jez Lawson, on the left, is an old schoolfriend. He got in touch a few years ago about a new device he was developing with two friends to help tinnitus sufferers.
Tinnitus is a major problem for people, causing great suffering. A number of clients who come to see me for help to transform their chronic pain also suffer tinnitus. There is crossover in sensitivity and how it can manifest.
Here is the story of TinniSoothe, written by Jez.
Howie’s Story: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation
One evening ten years ago, Howie Presland was following his passion outside of work: playing guitar and singing in a band. One night after standing too close to the speakers, he went to bed with a familiar ringing in his ears. At first, he didn’t think much of it, since it wasn’t unusual for him to experience a little post-rehearsal buzzing. But when the noise was still there two days later, Howie’s mild concern turned into full-on panic.
He began scouring the internet for answers, only to find there was no cure for tinnitus. Worse still, countless horror stories filled his mind with dread. Questions circled endlessly: “Is this my future?” “Can I live with this constant noise?”
Desperate for relief, Howie tried pretty much everything: hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acupuncture, vitamin supplements, and even experimental NHS injections through his eardrums. Nothing worked. The relentless noise became the soundtrack to his life.
Eventually, Howie discovered white noise could distract his brain from the tinnitus, offering some peace. But this solution was far from perfect. He constantly had to turn on the TV, radio, or laptop just to drown out the sound, which only reminded him of the problem. NHS hearing aids with built-in tinnitus maskers didn’t help either. They blocked his hearing and weren’t practical at night, when the condition was often at its worst.
Howie needed a better solution: something simple, discreet, and effective. But there was nothing on the market that seemed to fit the bill. That’s when inspiration struck.
In 2018, with the help of his brother Lloyd, an electrical engineer, Howie started building prototypes at the kitchen table. Together with friend Jez Lawson, they secured a patent and began turning their idea into a business called TinniSoothe.
Then disaster struck. In 2019, Howie suffered a high-speed windsurfing accident, resulting in severe whiplash. Weeks later, he collapsed at home due to blood clots that had travelled to his brain stem. Emergency surgery saved his life, but the road to recovery was long and gruelling. He had to rehabilitate and learn how to walk, talk, and write again.
The trauma also worsened his tinnitus. Despite this, Howie’s resolve only grew stronger. Once he had regained his strength, he and Jez reignited their mission to help people living with tinnitus.
Six years after the initial idea, TinniSoothe launched to the public. It became the world’s only sound therapy device that offers 24/7 tinnitus relief without requiring anything in or around the ears. It is registered as a Class 1 medical device, and is proudly made in Britain.
Worn around the neck during the day, the device emits customisable white noise toward the ears, subtly diverting attention away from tinnitus. At bedtime, it docks in a cradle to re-charge and switches to night-time settings. Over time, it helps users achieve habituation, a state where the brain reclassifies tinnitus as an unimportant background sound that can be consciously ignored.
Howie’s journey from musician to inventor — and from trauma to triumph — is a testament to his resilience and innovation. For the millions living with tinnitus, TinniSoothe offers a new way forward: a simple, effective path to relief and hope.
Do you have tinnitus, or know someone who does? According to a Tinnitus UK study, at least 1 in 7 adults live with tinnitus. February 3rd – 9th is Tinnitus Week and I want to support any patients who are affected by the condition.
Tinnitus has many causes, and not all of them are hearing-related. There are a lot of potential causes including trauma, hormone changes, cardiovascular problems, and neurological disorders including traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to a recent study by Apple Hearing, stress can also exacerbate the condition.
Tinnitus is often linked to psychological co-morbidities, and can contribute to anxiety, depression and insomnia, affecting both work and social life. For many, it can be a debilitating condition that affects their ability to enjoy life fully. During this Tinnitus Week, I would like to offer some practical advice to those clients who may be struggling with this common condition.
Listen to Howie on the Happy Hearing Podcast:
Some common questions answered by Jez, and a special offer for readers of my blog:
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus can come in many forms, but essentially it is the sensation of hearing a sound when there is no external source for that sound. Tinnitus is unique to the person experiencing it. It can sound like ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, whooshing – or a combination of these noises. Tinnitus can be chronic and persistent for some sufferers, whereas it can come and go for others. It is often worse during quieter surroundings.
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for tinnitus, but there are many things you can do to reduce the distress tinnitus may cause. It is always a good idea to get your hearing tested by an expert, but it is often hard to find any root cause. Don’t lose heart, there are things you can do.
What can I do if I have tinnitus?
Firstly, it really helps to stay positive. Tinnitus will feed off any anxiety or panic you might feel, and it can become a vicious cycle. Remind yourself that it is harmless and 1 in 7 people on the planet have tinnitus. Millions of people live with tinnitus perfectly well and successfully achieve ‘habituation’. This is when you no longer perceive your tinnitus as a threat, and you learn to accept the sound as just a natural part of you.
What can I do to help myself?
Tinnitus UK has some very good advice, especially on their Treatments page. One of the treatments that is regarded as both safe and effective is Sound Therapy. This is the use of background noise to distract the brain’s attention away from the tinnitus and onto a more ‘friendly’ sound. Tinnitus UK has reviewed a new wearable device, made in Britain, called a TinniSoothe.
It is the world’s only sound generator that can be worn without the need for anything in or around the ears.
TinniSoothe usually retails at £365 on their web Shop at https://tinnisoothe.com/ and they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, you can buy one for £292 by using an exclusive 20% discount code RS20 at checkout.
I hope that helps.
RS
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