NHS failing war veterans with tinnitus
9 November 2006
As the country prepares for Remembrance Day, the charity Deafness Research UK is highlighting the failure of the NHS to help war veterans whose lives have been devastated due to tinnitus.
A study by Deafness Research UK has shown that millions of patients suffering from tinnitus are being badly let down by the NHS. The research shows a disturbing lack of knowledge of the treatments that are available for this common and distressing condition.
Over four million people in the UK are affected by the noises in the head or ear known as tinnitus. They can vary in intensity from a low hum to noise levels equivalent to a jet engine and, not surprisingly, they often cause anxiety, lack of sleep and depression. Long exposure to loud noise such as artillery fire is known to cause tinnitus and many war veterans are sufferers.
This study shows that over three quarters (76%) of people who sought help from the NHS for their tinnitus had not received any of the generally accepted treatments.
Almost a third had not even been referred to a consultant by their GP. Those GPs who were unwilling to refer their patients to a specialist also tended to be unsympathetic about their symptoms. Although guidelines issued to GPs emphasise that making negative remarks about tinnitus can actually worsen patients' symptoms, the research found that over half of these people were told, "There is no cure, you’ll have to live with it".
Deafness Research UK's Chief Executive, Vivienne Michael, said today:
"War veterans who can trace their deafness or hearing loss to active service are able to seek compensation. But veterans with tinnitus caused by gunfire or artillery noise often have nowhere to turn for help, no route to compensation, and suffer in silence.
"Veterans made a huge contribution to the life of this country and there needs to be much better support and help available for those suffering every day with tinnitus – a devastating and underestimated condition for millions of people in Britain.
"More than 300,000 people are so badly affected by tinnitus they cannot lead a normal life and yet, even though more treatments are now widely available, clearly many health professionals still consider tinnitus an untreatable condition and show little understanding of its impact on mental health."
Recognised treatments for tinnitus are sound generators, which produce a competing sound to help mask the tinnitus and psychological therapies based on retraining the brain to ignore the tinnitus noises.
However, the Deafness Research UK study showed that, even amongst those who managed to obtain a referral to a specialist, most failed to obtain treatment with only 12% being offered a masker and a mere 2.5% receiving psychological therapies.
Although tinnitus is often experienced in conjunction with a hearing loss and a hearing aid can help to reduce the perceived level of tinnitus as well as improving a person's hearing, only 23% were given a hearing aid by their specialist.
Wartime gunfire left Eric tormented by tinnitus
Eric Maggs, from Chester, has had tinnitus for almost 60 years and puts it down to military service during WWII, where he was exposed to loud gun fire.
He tells his story:
"I first experienced tinnitus following periods where I was exposed to loud gunfire during the war. I reported it at the time but was told that it would go away after a day or two. Instead, it has remained constant since then, and has increased in intensity over the years.
"I first saw my doctor regarding tinnitus and deafness about 1951 and was referred to a clinic where I saw a specialist. I had a hearing test and was told I was deaf to high frequency notes. I told the specialist of my experience with tinnitus and suggested my military experience was the cause. He dismissed this out of hand as being 'impossible', but I was not convinced at the time, or since.
"I visited my GP again in the 1970s about my tinnitus and his reaction was initially rather negative. He did not consider it serious enough to need further action.
"I left it until about 1983 when I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. This can recur at intervals (rarely) for no apparent reason, but it is not usually a problem, but the tinnitus has increased."
Eric's story is not unique. Millions of people in Britain suffer from tinnitus and often GP’s don’t know what to do about it.
Deafness Research UK has produced a special booklet called 'Managing Tinnitus', which is free of charge and designed to help people like Eric and give advice on ways to manage your tinnitus and where you can go for help with the condition.
If you’d like a copy of the booklet or advice about your tinnitus contact Deafness Research UK Information Service freephone helpline on 0808 808 2222.
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For further information or interviews with Vivienne Michael contact:
Deafness Research UK Press Office
Tel: 020 7837 8092
Mobile (out of office hours): 07866 877099
Notes to editors
- A new tinnitus information pack has been produced to coincide with the charity's campaign. Based on the most up-to-date research, it is designed to help people manage their tinnitus by giving them a better understanding of the condition and the various treatment options. The pack is available by calling the Deafness Research UK Information Service on 020 7679 8970, by emailing info@deafnessresearch.org.uk, or writing to Deafness Research UK, PO Box 49740, London, WC1X 8WU.
- Deafness Research UK is the country's only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and therapies for the UK’s nine million deaf or hard of hearing people. The charity supports medical research into all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus.
