Released on: June 9, 2008, 5:08 am

Press Release Author: BeyondPR

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: 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.

Press Release Body: 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. She has had no choice but to
adapt her lifestyle to cope with the constant intrusions and feels she has received
very little support from the medical profession.

When she first became aware of the noises, Pam understandably hoped they'd go away
and put off seeking medical help for several years, especially after reading that no
cure was available. When she eventually mentioned it to her GP at the time, she got
an unsympathetic response. "He just laughed and advised me to play a radio quietly
as a distraction to help me get to sleep at night. But it wasn't exactly practical
considering my husband works shifts," she explains.

Pam, however, 56, has gradually found ways to manage each day but still wishes she
could wake up one morning to the long-forgotten sound of silence.

"There are some things I don't do anymore such as going to the pictures because I
can't concentrate on watching a film. I need to have the TV volume louder than
normal and can't always hear it properly even then. I also know that people
sometimes think I'm rude because I haven't realised what they're saying or kept up
with the conversation." Tinnitus also affects Pam's balance especially at night and
intensifies if she has a cold or is under stress.

She often feels quite isolated and admits to getting depressed sometimes. "It's very
difficult for people to understand because there's nothing to see, so it isn't
really taken seriously. Although I'm not deaf as such, I do mishear things because
the tinnitus often overrides normal sounds." Consequently, Pam has become quite
adept at lip-reading and has also found other ways to compensate for her distorted
hearing. In her job as a learning resource assistant at her local college, she
makes a particular effort to recognise the faces of new students so she can quickly
match them to the photographs on their identity cards rather than having to ask
their names. She still has the odd misunderstanding, but tries to see the funny
side.

"I won't let it beat me and you do tend to find ways of getting round the problem,"
she says. "It's not as frightening as it was at first when I didn't know what I was
dealing with, but I do think more awareness among the public and health
professionals is needed. A good experiment would be to see the reaction of people if
the sounds of tinnitus were reproduced and played constantly to them for a day. If
people could experience it for themselves, they'd have a better understanding of
what it's like and why more support is needed," she adds.

Deafness Research UK is the country\'s only charity dedicated to finding new cures,
treatments and technologies for the deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired
people including tinnitus sufferers. Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness
Research UK, said: "Around five million people in the UK are affected by tinnitus
and it can have a devastating effect on their quality of life. Not enough is known
about this very complex condition and we are determined to do something about it.
We are committed to funding leading edge research and providing practical
information to health professionals for the benefit of sufferers," she added.

Where tinnitus symptoms are continuous or troublesome, Deafness Research UK's
Information Service recommends that medical help be sought. Your GP should be able
to refer you to your local hospital to get specialist help. Whilst a cure as such is
not available, various treatments are available on the NHS.

'Deafness Research UK has produced a useful guide called 'Managing Tinnitus'. To
receive a copy telephone 0808 808 2222 or email info@deafnessresearch.org.uk. For
information on research into deafness and other hearing conditions, log on to the
website, www.deafnessresearch.org.uk


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.
. The Deafness Research UK Information Service provides free information and advice
based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The
Information Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222
. Deafness Research UK was founded in 1985 by Lord and Lady Ashley of Stoke.
. 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.



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Ref: DRUK0047 - Pam Allen