Great Britain urgently needs a Human Tissue Biobank Library Samples so experts can study and find better treatments or a cure for “ringing in the ears,” says the British Tinnitus Association (BTA).
It is believed that over seven million adults in the UK have tinnitus.
This stressful and disruptive condition of hearing static, hum, or other intensely disturbing noise without an external source is poorly understood.
For some, living a normal life becomes difficult or impossible.
A charity survey conducted in November of 2,600 people with tinnitus suggests nearly one in 10 people living with the condition have had thoughts of suicide or self-harm in the past two years.
One in three thought about their condition every hour – which caused them anxiety and sadness.
Kirsty Stewart from Hampshire was 28 when she developed tinnitus.
“At first it sounded like a lawn mower. I thought maybe a neighbor was doing his lawn but they didn’t. It was really bizarre.”
Kirsty tried to ignore it, but the sound was persistent and then morphed into something even more distressing to her.
“It became a loud piercing ringing. It was so bad and loud that I couldn’t escape it. It was constant. It was like torture.”
She says it’s taken a massive toll on her well-being.
“It brought my whole life down. I stopped eating, seeing friends and family, and I felt unable to work because I couldn’t concentrate.
“It got so bad that I spoke to my mother about not wanting to be here anymore. I was so desperate.”
The BTA says other people with tinnitus have similar experiences of feeling isolated, debilitated and stressed.
She published the poll results in a new report.
As one interviewee confided, “You don’t like to tell people because you think they’ll think you’re crazy. 7.”
Another said: “It made me feel like a lot of my life was stolen from me.
“From my ability to ever go to concerts or enjoy music again, to the need to give up my daily and nightly meditation practice, to my fear of loud noises.”
Kirsty saw a doctor who referred her to a specialist with experience treating tinnitus. She says she found ways to deal with the noises she still hears in both ears. Kirsty says counseling and reflexology helped her adjust.
Malcolm Hilton, an ear, nose and throat specialist at the University of Exeter Medical School, says a national tinnitus biobank would be of great benefit and could identify better ways to treat the condition.
“There are many treatment options for tinnitus and it’s disappointing that people are still getting away with the message that without support they ‘must learn to live with it’. The main problem is that there is usually no ‘quick fix’ and no other treatment. Different people’s approaches are needed,” he said.
BTA leader David Stockdale said: “We know that developing cures for any disease takes time and that is why we need to move forward in tinnitus research.”
The charity provides information, tips and support for people affected by tinnitus.
Things you can try to deal with this include:
- relaxation and meditation
- playing background noise or music as a distraction
- Find ways to improve your sleep such as: B. sticking to a bedtime routine or reducing caffeine
- Join a self-help group
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