Case Study - Dennis Walker

SURREY MAN WARNS OF TINNITUS RISK FACTORS

Dennis Walker of Coulsdon in Surrey developed tinnitus about eight years ago when a sudden whistling sound appeared in his right ear. The noise kept him awake all night and, although he has grown to accept the condition, he admits it can be hard to live with and still finds night-times particularly difficult.

"When it first happened, I couldn't understand it and thought the noises must be outside until I opened a window and realised how quiet it was," explained Dennis. "I didn't know anything about tinnitus at all when it was first diagnosed and have only learned about it since. "I used to wear headsets at work that emitted a high-pitched whistle and I've done some dee-jaying and clay pigeon shooting in the past which might have something to do with it."

Dennis, 56, recently developed a muffled thumping sound as well as the whistling and has some deafness in the affected ear. "It really does get you down sometimes but it's a case of mind over matter and just accepting it," he said.

He now firmly believes that people should protect their ears in noisy environments but knows it's not always easy to persuade people of the risks. "It's difficult to convince youngsters listening to loud music or using noisy equipment that it's not good for them but I wouldn't want anyone else to suffer with this," he warned.

Dennis, who works as a supervisor for a contacting company, finds the problem much worse in quiet places and says that some noise can be a useful distraction. He sometimes listens to soothing music at night which help him to sleep but hasn't found anything else very effective. Like many tinnitus sufferers, he has discovered a shortage of practical help and would welcome more awareness of the condition. "I'm sure lots of people will end up with tinnitus and I hope someone can find a cure for it," 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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