Issue September 2006

Dear Supporter

Our focus in this issue is getting tinnitus on the UK health agenda. Why? Because we strongly believe, from anecdotal evidence and talking to sufferers, that the health service has totally overlooked the plight of those with tinnitus.

There is an easy way for individuals to get involved and do something. Simply submit a form to NICE - the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the UK. We show you how to do this later in this email.

I strongly appeal to you on behalf of the charity and all tinnitus sufferers in the UK to complete the NICE form and get tinnitus on the UK health agenda.

Many thanks

Philip Champ
Chairman



Service? What service?
Tinnitus relegated for far too long

Recent surveys and anecdotal evidence highlights the poor treatment that tinnitus sufferers receive from the NHS. The main problem for GPs is not one of diagnosis. That is easy. However, the problem is that there are insufficient secondary care services: from consultants to support services. The service is inconsistent. Some GPs give basic advice and support, while others neither have the time nor the knowledge to give even that...
ATR's NICE campaign
Read our battle cry to get tinnitus on the agenda...



NICE campaign>>
Supported by Nick Palmer MP

ATR is calling for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to offer national, consistent guidelines for identifying and dealing with tinnitus. The campaign, which is being backed by Dr Nick Palmer MP, encourages everyone to get involved: healthcare professionals, patients, carers, and the public.

Make a big difference to tinnitus sufferers in the UK! Suggest Tinnitus as a topic to be investigated by NICE.



Put tinnitus on the health agenda today!

www.nice.org.uk



Quick tips>>
Completing the NICE form

The NICE website form is easy enough to complete. It may take you ten minutes, however it is worth the effort! It asks for your name, email address, role i.e. patient, healthcare worker etc., location, and whether you are responding as an individual or organisation.

Please answer from your perspective and your own knowledge. However to help you, here are some tips to make it easier to complete the form.

The detail you need to complete:

  • Topic suggestion: consistent guidelines for identifying and dealing with tinnitus
  • Clinical or public health area suggestion most closely applies to? Ear and nose
  • Specific illness or condition suggestion aims to treat or prevent: Tinnitus
  • Aspect(s) of this illness/condition or behaviour suggestion focus on? Tick the following: Investigation/assessment, Diagnosis/identification, Referral, Individual treatment, Management/pathway
    of care, Service delivery
  • What group(s) of patients or the general public does your suggestion apply to? 10% of the UK population - across all demographics - who have tinnitus
  • Where is the care associated with your suggestion given? Primary care
  • Why you think there is a need for guidance on your suggestion in the NHS? Variation in prescription/practice, Inappropriate use/practice, Variation in access to treatment/care
  • Other information about you that is relevant to your topic suggestion? Provide information from your persepctive, i.e. I am a tinnitus sufferer, I am a GP with tinnitus patients
  • Statement on the extent and quality of the evidence base: Only complete is you have insight and information
  • Data protection section: answer in terms of your own experience.

Thank you for taking the trouble to complete the form...

If you completed the form, please let us know.



Research Projects>>
New research trial planned

Over the coming months we will be telling you about a new and exciting research programme that is planned to take place in the first half of next year. We can't disclose the details - except to say it will be of huge benefit to the global tinnitus community. We need to raise £20,000 urgently to launch the programme.

Can you or your company help?
Give a gift to launch ATR's new research programme



Research News>>
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

A number of researchers around the world have been investigating whether a new technique known as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can be used in treating tinnitus.
Read the article



Case Studies>>
Living with tinnitus

Mary Stamp of Northampton, first experienced tinnitus after working in a small, noisy office where printers were operating close to her desk for several hours each day.
Read Mary's story...



In the News>>
Tinnitus and memory

Science Daily reports: Individuals with chronic, moderate tinnitus do more poorly on demanding working memory and attention tests than those without tinnitus, according to research conducted at the University of Western Sydney.



Genetics of hearing loss

Science Daily reports: Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have taken a step toward understanding the genetics that make people more susceptible to the loss of hearing as they age.