Case Study - Ian Butterworth

HALIFAX MAN BACKS TINNITUS RESEARCH

Ian Butterworth of Halifax, West Yorkshire, has lived with tinnitus for more than ten years and believes it was triggered by a night out in a noisy club. He has gradually learned to cope with the condition, often through trial and error, but still has occasional setbacks.

The high-pitched and constant screech in his left ear initially drove him to despair, causing sleepless nights and endless worry. He had numerous medical assessments and tests but, like thousands of others, found a distinct lack of awareness and help for tinnitus sufferers and is disappointed that the medical profession can currently offer so little support.

Ian eventually contacted a self-help group which he found far more beneficial than his visits to professional bodies. Among other things, he was advised to 'calmly accept the problem' and actually found it be the most effective approach.� "Contacting the group really gave me hope for the future and made a big difference to my life," said Ian. "I started travelling, took up new interests and tried to put a more positive slant on the situation which definitely helped."

Unfortunately his tinnitus became more acute at the end of 2005 and he looked into the possibility of retraining therapy but decided only to try it as a last resort. "Things do seem to be improving again now but it was quite a difficult time," explained Ian, 35, who works as a computer programmer.

Listening to soothing classical music, keeping busy and avoiding stress as much as possible have all helped him to deal with a seemingly impossible� - and long-term�- situation. He is very keen to see more research into the complex condition and hopes that real progress can be made.

"I'd always advise people to avoid regular exposure to excessive noise and to use hearing protection in noisy environments," warned Ian who can still enjoy the occasional live rock concert complete with cotton wool and ear plugs at the ready. "I completely sympathise with anyone going through this because it really is an absolute pain but I try not to fight it and remember that things could be a lot worse," he added.

The UK-based charity Action for Tinnitus Research focuses on funding medical and scientific research into the condition. Its operations director Nick Doughty said that raising awareness was an important part of its work in the pursuit of a cure. "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," he explained. "Not enough information is available about this complex condition 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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