Issue August 2007

Research Update>>
What we learnt at TRI

ATR supported work was presented alongside the latest findings from research groups from the US, Europe, Japan, South America and Australasia at the Tinnitus Research initiative (TRI) Conference in Monaco this July. The meeting, which was attended by over a hundred tinnitus researchers, focussed on all aspects of tinnitus research.
Read about what we learnt at TRI



ATR Website>>
Praised by leading Nursing Publication

A leading nursing journal, The Nursing Standard, has praised our website for providing valuable information for the medical profession, tinnitus sufferers and the public. Our website was described in the July 2007 edition of Nursing Standard as "packed with information about noise, including the damage it can cause".
The article adds that "the information is practical, powerful and sufficiently scary, without ever really needing to scream". We're delighted - as that is exactly what we set out to do.
Read The Nursing Standard press cutting



Media Case Studies>>
Living with Tinnitus

John MacArthur of Belfast played his part to serve and protect the community. But as a consequence of working with firearms and being involved in a number of incidents involving explosions, this serving police officer developed tinnitus. By the time he was 30, John realised that his hearing had been compromised.
Read John's story...

Pam Allen of Middlesbrough, has lived with tinnitus for 12 years and on a 'good' day she hears a continuous hissing sound in both ears. On a bad day, the noises can resemble bells and bagpipes and she has even been known to get up at night to answer a telephone that hasn't been ringing.
Read Pam's story...



Media Ambassadors>>
Let your voice be heard

The plight of tinnitus sufferers is being heard load and clear thanks to our media ambassadors. Over 50 people have applied to become Media Ambassadors - with 40 case studies published on our website. Our Media Ambassadors' stories are being published everywhere - in regional newspapers, specialist national magazines, online publications, and even on the radio. We are starting to get the message across and appreciate your help and support in making this possible.

Tinnitus sufferers are potentially a huge and powerful lobby; almost one in ten in the UK suffers. Help us further get the message across and increase the number of tinnitus Ambassadors.

Just imagine if we had hundreds of people around the country speaking up about tinnitus to the media, local MPs, friends, colleagues, etc on a daily basis. This is our aim with the Ambassadors' Programme. Healthcare officials and politicians wouldn't be able to ignore us then and we could get the funding we desperately need to invest in research - to find treatments and cures for tinnitus.

Would you like to spread the message that more needs to be done for tinnitus sufferers? Contact us today to join our growing army of media ambassadors.
I'd like to become a media ambassador... tell me more



Your Experiences>>
We just have to find a cure

Here are extracts from a few of your experiences:

Gem from the UK: "I am 24 years old and have been suffering from tinnitus for 8 years... What keeps me going is that, one day, someone will find a cure. I urge people to give to tinnitus charities to fund further research. As a medical student, I believe that this condition is potentially easily treatable..."

Emma from the UK: "Hello I am 38 years old and for the past six months I have had 'bird singing' noises in my ears. The only time is stops is when I am asleep. I have learned to live with it but I would love to get rid of it."

John from the UK: "I have suffered severe tinnitus for about ten years I find my tinnitus to be very stressful, lack of sleep, difficulty in concentration, and this makes me very short tempered, I long for a cure to be found."

Anonymous from Scotland: "I am kept awake for long periods throughout the night with a buzzing sound in my right ear... I am 50 years of age and hold a full time job but my ability to sustain this is becoming difficult."

Editors Comment: When we read your experiences, it makes us even more determined to do everything we can to find a cure. We've got to keep the momentum going. However we can't do this alone - we need your help!
What can you do to help?
Let us know...



In the News>>
Worldwide tinnitus initiatives

The ATA report: The American Tinnitus Association's CEO, David Fagerlie was featured in a recent article that appeared in the Seattle Times. The article outlines the effects of tinnitus on the patient.
Read the Seattle Times article

OnMedica report: A RNID survey found that seven in ten GPs have never had any training on how to deal with the common symptoms of tinnitus. Only 30% of 500 GPs surveyed said they had received any training on how to manage tinnitus.
Read the OnMedica article