Leicester Hearing Specialists Interview

Action for Tinnitus Research has supported research into the causes and potential treatments for tinnitus at the University of Leicester for a number of years. Two hearing specialists who are involved in this research are Mr. Peter Rea and Mr. Anil Banerjee. Both are ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons based at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. They see many tinnitus patients in their ENT clinics and are very aware of the need for long-term support for research into tinnitus. They spoke to us about how the research they are involved in is developing.

Mr. Banerjee, Head of ENT Services, and a specialist in otology at the Leicester Royal Infirmary told us:

"We know that tinnitus often follows after the inner ear has been damaged. That long-term exposure to noise can cause damage to the delicate structures of the inner ear. It is perhaps less well known that certain serious infections such as meningitis or treatment with necessary drugs can also result in damage to these structures that can then result in tinnitus".

Mr. Banerjee spoke about some of the main research areas they were looking for answers to:

"With support from ATR and other charities, we have been investigating patients with known exposure to these causes of damage to try to increase our understanding of what is going on in the inner ear after exposure.

We are also interested in how and why the damage to the inner ear sometimes develops differently from person to person. For example, some patients show little or no signs of damage to the inner ear but others appear to develop tinnitus and hearing loss quickly after noise or meningitis. Answers to these questions are central to helping us understand what the underlying causes of tinnitus are"

Mr. Banerjee also described how working with other specialists and researchers at the hospital and University increased the effectiveness of funding by ATR:

"One of the advantages we have here at Leicester is the strong collaborative research links with the University. This makes it possible to share facilities, ideas, and expertise. From the point of view of those supporting ATR this makes good sense, as for every pound it means that much more can be achieved.�

"For example, our research registrars work with other doctors researching in the Neurosciences with a focus on pain and epilepsy. We also collaborate with other research groups including Medical Physics, Meningitis, Respiratory Medicine, and Oncology. These diverse areas have already provided expertise that contributes to our understanding of how tinnitus arises in the inner ear"

Mr. Rea, a specialist in otology and lead clinician at the Leicester Hearing and Balance Centre, who supervises and co-ordinates ENT research projects in these areas, told us:

"This multidisciplinary approach has been invaluable in providing stimulating and rigorous research training for the ENT surgeons trained here. With both funding from ATR and from the University Hospital Trust, our registrars have been able to both learn and contribute to tinnitus and hearing-related projects. As they go on to become specialists in ENT this certainly helps to increase their depth of understanding of tinnitus itself and just as importantly the tinnitus patient".

Mr Rea told us that early results from the work has been presented at medical research conferences and published in medical journals:

"One of the key aims of the research we are involved in is to provide a bridge between the basic and clinical sciences to provide answers to the problems that cause tinnitus. With continued support, I think the wide range of scientific and clinical expertise we have at Leicester makes us well placed to contribute to this research into the causes of and possible treatments for tinnitus"

Though progress may seem slow to people who are waiting for a cure, every day we are step closer. It is thanks to your ongoing support that we are able to continue funding research into tinnitus, and support the sterling efforts of specialists such as Mr. Rea and Mr. Banerjee.

Please continue to support our research efforts by giving a donation or supporting us in whatever way you can ...