Issue [monthname] [year] Methods of support: Donate using Justgiving Other ways to donate Send to a friend Stay Informed Bonfire Night>> Beware of loud bangs 5th of November is Bonfire Night. Look after your ears ... Besides the risk to life and limb, one of the greatest risks at this time of year – particularly to young children - is the exposure to the loud bangs. Children and adults can get very excited about firework displays – and aren’t aware about the damage it could cause their hearing. If you're planning to visit a bonfire display – we’ve a simple message: Stand well back from the bangs and the firework display. If the bangs are still very loud – go somewhere quieter. Fireworks look better from a distance anyway. Wear adequate hearing protection. Ear muffs won’t do the job! Don’t be embarrassed about wearing ear protectors. The health of your ears is far more important. Enjoy the party season without any regrets Want to know where to buy ear plugs? Unfortunately we don’t recommend or endorse any specific manufacturers’ ear plugs or ear defenders. However, there are many available on the market. To find a pair to suit your needs, do an online search (such Google, Yahoo or MSN) for "ear plugs", "ear defenders", or "hearing protection". Three point>> Tinnitus Risk Test Excessive noise levels are one the biggest causes of tinnitus today ... Take our three point tinnitus risk test ... and make sure you do not put yourself or others at risk of getting tinnitus. Is the noise very loud? Sounds over 80 decibels (dB) can cause hearing loss if exposure is long. A noisy pub or busy city centre can reach 90dB. That’s scary! How close am I to the noise? The closer you are the noise, the higher your risk. That is why rock musicians who stand right next to speakers at concerts often have tinnitus. How long do I need to be here? The longer you stay in an area of loud noise, the higher your risk. So, if you work in a noisy environment, you need to insist on hearing protection and breaks away from the noise If the noise is very loud, you are close to the noise and you think you’ll be in the environment for a while, you are at severe risk of tinnitus and hearing loss if you do not ear hearing protection. Note that ear plugs and hearing protection will not fully protect your ears if the noise is excessively loud, you are exposed to that noise for some time, or you are very close to the noise. Our advice is that if you’re in any doubt - leave noisy environments as soon as you can. See our decibel chart Be "ear aware">> Take steps today to protect your ears Ever been somewhere where there is excessive noise? Such as a concert, nightclub, or firework display ... You may not notice until you leave that your ears are ringing. This is a warning sign that you have done damage to your ears. It may disappear over time, but for many people – the ringing continues. Many of our supporters who have been exposed to loud noise which resulted in tinnitus say "I wish I knew and had done something about it at the time". Take steps today ... before it’s too late. Be "ear-aware" ... When you’re exposed to loud noise, you should do the sensible thing ... look for somewhere quieter or wear hearing protection. Wear earplugs or hearing protection even if you don’t find the noise uncomfortable. You may not feel pain – however you’re putting yourself at high risk of tinnitus and hearing loss at higher frequencies. Damage to your hair cells in your inner ear is accumulated over time. Don’t spend a long time in noise environments. You’re at risk of tinnitus and/or hearing loss if you spend long periods of time in noisy pubs, clubs and restaurants, road works, factories, and so forth. Avoid single loud noises such as a gun going off, an explosion, or a firework exploding close to you. Even if you do have tinnitus - wear ear protection and look after your ears. The damage could get worse over time if you continue to expose your ears to noise. Media Ambassadors>> Let their voices be heard Tony Antoniou-Savva of Bletchley in Milton Keynes began hearing a buzzing noise in his ears two years ago. When he realised that it wasn’t coming from the TV but from inside his head, he went to the doctor. The 42-year-old self-employed businessman has since tried everything, from the mundane to the bizarre ... Read Tony’s story ... Chris Nuttall of Stathern near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, developed tinnitus suddenly in 1983 and initially found it a very frightening experience. The noises began out of the blue and simply didn't disappear leading him, understandably, to panic about the possible causes ... Read Chris’ story ... Media Ambassadors>> Speak out when others can’t Have you been exposed to loud noises and have tinnitus as a result? Warn the world of the dangers by letting your voice be heard via our Media Ambassadors programme! 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? Contact us today to become a Media Ambassador. The numbers are growing – the stories are powerful and unforgettable. This month alone, seven people have volunteered. We’ll be publishing their stories shortly. I’d like to become a media ambassador ... tell me more In the News>> What causes pulsatile tinnitus Mayo Clinic in the US reports: Pulsatile tinnitus, also called objective tinnitus, is a hissing, squealing, buzzing or roaring noise in your ear that follows the same rhythm as your heartbeat. The noise may vary in pitch and be loud enough to be distracting. The piece outlines the possible causes of pulsatile tinnitus. New Cell Culturing Method ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2007) reports: In a breakthrough that will likely accelerate research aimed at cures for hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance problems, scientists have perfected a laboratory culturing technique that provides a reliable new source of cells critical to understanding certain inner-ear disorders. Note – we do not support or endorse any third parties, suppliers, manufacturers, consultancies or practices. Unsubscribe from future Stay Informed emails. Action for Tinnitus Research, Old Court House, Church Street, Bingham, Nottingham. NG13 8AL Action for Tinnitus Research Registered Charity No: 1078378 © [year] Action for Tinnitus Research. Powered by eShotz