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Tinnitus is no silent witness to hearing loss
- Deafness Research UK’s Chief Executive, Vivienne Michael, is available for interview in London or by telephone.
- Deafness Research UK’s Outreach Advisor, Andrew Goodwin is available for interview to discuss his own personal fight against sudden hearing loss and living with tinnitus
- Experts working in the field of tinnitus and hearing loss (including Professor Deb Hall, National Biomedical Unit in Hearing Research and Professor McAlpine, Director of UCL’s Ear Institute) may be available for interview.
Deafness Research UK’s new leaflet ‘Helping you to hear better: hearing loss and hearing aids ’, outlines what causes different types of hearing loss and advice on what to do next. It also highlights the fact that hearing aids might be helpful in helping you to cope with tinnitus. Tinnitus is can be common in those diagnosed as hard of hearing people, partly due to the damage to the hearing system which is associated with its onset. For those with a hearing impairment, a hearing aid may not only help to make external sounds more audible but may, in some cases, reduce the level of the tinnitus. It is estimated that over seven million people in the UK are affected by tinnitus and while three million people have consulted their GP with the condition - which manifests itself as a loud ringing or buzzing in the ears - there is much anecdotal evidence to show that many people tend choose to ignore it and don’t seek a diagnosis from their GP, yet the symptoms can be an early warning of more serious conditions.For the half a million people for whom the symptoms are severe, the condition can have a massive effect on everyday life, causing lack of sleep, problems with concentrating at work and even problems in personal relationships.“We now know that tinnitus is not a single problem, but can be a common symptom of underlying causes,” said Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK. “This can be anything from noise-induced hearing loss from exposure to loud environments; a side effect of certain drugs; or in some extreme cases, more serious medical conditions. Any change in the body’s normal function should be investigated and in the case of tinnitus, early diagnosis is advisable and appropriate treatments sought.”About Deafness Research UK
- Deafness Research UK is the country’s only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people.
- The charity supports high quality medical research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus.
- Deafness Research UK is entirely dependent on voluntary donations, gifts and personal legacies. You can donate online at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk , or call 0207 7833 1733 for further information on how to support the charity.
- The Deafness Research UK Advisory Service provides free information and advice based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The Advisory Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222.
- For more information on research into deafness, tinnitus and other hearing conditions, log on to the website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk where you can access a wide range of information. Alternatively you can e-mail Deafness Research UK at info@deafnessresearch.org.uk
- One in seven people in the UK – almost nine million people - suffer hearing loss.
- Deafness Research UK was founded in 1985 by Lord (Jack) and Lady Ashley of Stoke.
- In January 2008, Action for Tinnitus Research (ATR) was linked with Deafness Research UK under a uniting direction order under section 96(6) of the Charities Act 1993.
Case studiesA selection of tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss case studies are available with photographs. Please e-mail or phone BeyondPR with your case study requirements. Some examples include:
- Conrad Jarvis (39) – a young DJ from Hertfordshire who found himself experiencing sudden hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Valerie Idowu (20) – a young photography student from London who has suffered from severe bilateral hearing loss from a very young age.
- Christine MacInnes (49) – a Stevenage social worker faced with sudden hearing loss and tinnitus.
Ongoing research projectsDeafness Research UK is actively engaged in funding many other projects, together with the UCL Ear Institute and four other Auditory Centres of Excellence around the country. Full details are available on request.
