According to this website, around 1 in 10 of us suffer from Tinnitus, some of us to a degree that we would classify ourselves as being disabled. Yet all 6 Million people are forced to hear sounds that the rest of us don’t hear. This week has been Tinnitus Awareness Week and although the week is not yet over, today may well be the last day to find out if any of our co-workers are affected by the symptoms of Tinnitus. If people do suffer from ‘ringing in the ears’ the literal translation of the Latin word from which Tinnitus is derived, there are some remedies. According to the Action on Hearing Loss website the impact of the condition can be mitigated through:
- Specialist tinnitus support
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help manage the effects of tinnitus
- Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
- Information on products and services
Yet apparently only 41% of audiologists are able to provide all of these services or suitable referrals. It is clearly vital that all of us become more aware of the impact of Tinnitus along with other forms of hearing loss. It is not for nothing that hearing loss is known as a hidden disability. On Wednesday along with a colleague I had the privilege of speaking to a small group of Architects in Crawley, explaining to them the ways in which they could accommodate those with hearing loss more effectively in their buildings. The seminar has the same sort of potential to change lives as building ramps that work and widening doorways has for those whose mobility is dependent on a wheelchair. Sadly although the seminar costs the Architects nothing, and we even provide them with a free lunch, there are some practices who are not convinced that the seminar will be of value for their practices.
Today is the last day of the working week, and although it is unlikely that any of us will know if our colleagues suffer from the symptoms of Tinnitus. However why not ask those who work near us if they or any relatives have heard of Tinnitus. If that is not possible why not at least check out the website (the link is above).
ianchisnall 