Case Study - Maureen Binstead

ESSEX WOMAN HIGHLIGHTS LACK OF TINNITUS SUPPORT

When Maureen Binstead of Billericay, Essex, heard an ongoing droning noise one night she assumed it was an aeroplane overhead and was surprised when her husband didn't hear it. The following night she heard the same droning again and started to suspect that something was wrong but the sounds then disappeared. Several years later, however, Maureen experienced a high-pitched hissing in her ears and the constant, intrusive noise of tinnitus has stayed with her ever since.

Maureen, 53, finds the most difficult times are undoubtedly at night and it's not uncommon for her still to be awake in the early hours of the morning. "During the day, I can tune in to other things but it's much harder at night and there are times when you just lie there wishing it would go away," she explained. Unfortunately, health professionals have offered little assistance or advice and Maureen has had to do her best to live with it for the last six years.

She also has Meniere's disease�- a disorder of the inner ear that causes dizziness and hearing problems�- and the two things combined can be exhausting. Her job in a busy scanning bureau helps her to block out the tinnitus and the buzz of the machinery provides a useful distraction. "My colleagues sometimes say how loud the scanners are but I never notice!"

Maureen copes day to day by trying to keep a positive attitude and is determined to carry on as normal. "The tinnitus is there 24-7 but it doesn't really stop me from doing anything mainly because I won't let it," she said. "My concentration sometimes goes and being with a crowd of people who are all chatting can be difficult. It seems worse at some times than at others especially if I'm having an off day but people at work are very supportive and it's possible to switch off from it to a degree if you're focused on other things."

Maureen does believe that there is a lack of awareness about tinnitus as well as a shortage of medical support. "It's something that can affect people at any age and it would be helpful if more was known about it. You do hear of new theories occasionally particularly on the internet but it seems to be something that isn't very well understood and people who've never experienced it just can't imagine what it's like," she added.

The UK-based charity Action for Tinnitus Research focuses on funding medical and scientific research in pursuit of a cure and raising awareness is a key part of its work. Operations director Nick Doughty said: "It is estimated that over five million people in the UK are affected by tinnitus and it can have a devastating effect on their quality of life. Not enough information is available about the very complex symptom and we are one of the few organisations 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," he added.

For more information on Action for Tinnitus Research, logon to the website at
www.tinnitus-research.org, e-mail [email protected] or telephone
0115 925 4065

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