Case Study - William Nunn

LONDONER HIGHLIGHTS TINNITUS MISERY

William Nunn who lives near Wimbledon in London developed tinnitus suddenly in 2002 after listening to live music. During the first few months he was plunged into despair and suffered depression and chronic insomnia. His situation has gradually improved and the ringing and hissing sounds in his ears are now less intrusive but he knows of numerous cases where people's lives have been turned upside down by this miserable condition.

"The unhappiness that tinnitus can cause is absolutely immense and can really mess up lives. The levels of noise that some people hear are unimaginable but very little seems to be known about it," he explained. His own doctors have been helpful and understanding but, through extensive research and contact with fellow sufferers, he knows that isn't always the case.

William, 26, is also concerned that tinnitus is on the increase particularly among the younger generation and firmly believes that the risks of excessive noise exposure should be highlighted. "People really do need to know the facts to stop them from going through this experience," he stressed.� The UK and our society in general is becoming much noisier especially with advances in technology and some manufacturers just don't seem to care. William now carries a good set of earplugs with him to use if needed and has become more used to keeping his tinnitus under control.� Even though his condition has currently improved, William is fully aware that it may worsen in future and already knows through experience that unrelated illnesses can make it much more acute. He feels strongly that a cohesive scientific approach is needed to combat the problem.

"There seems to be no joint study protocol in place between institutions which makes me less hopeful of a cure being found but more research is vital," he said.� "People should also realise that there are a lot of charlatans about who target tinnitus and make money by marketing fake cures. When people are desperate, they'll try any so-called remedy that's around but one of the most important things is to find a receptive doctor who's willing to listen to what patients have to say. That and a strong support network of family and friends are crucial for anyone in this situation," 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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