Case Study - Brian Miles

WAKEFIELD MAN HIGHLIGHTS TRAUMA OF TINNITUS

Brian Miles of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has lived with the torment of tinnitus for at least three years and the condition has had a significant impact on his everyday life. It began with a bubbling sensation and sounds in his ears that he initially attributed to nothing worse than a build up of wax. When ear rinsing failed to solve the problem and the noise volume increased dramatically, he sought medical advice and was diagnosed with tinnitus.

Living with noises so loud that he can hear them above the roar of rush-hour traffic has been a real struggle and at first Mr Miles found the prospect of coping long-term almost impossible. Months of worry and sleepless nights followed and he eventually gave up work due to concentration problems and sheer exhaustion.

"It was terrifying at first and I completely understand how desperate it can make people feel," he said. "One of the worst aspects is that it's there all the time and it's a depressing thought that you'll have it for ever." Mr Miles, 61, is also aware of the impact it has on close family members and finds the condition intensely frustrating.�

"I don't get quite as much pleasure from life as I used to and although I try to stay positive it obviously affects the people around me which I worry about," he explained.

"I've heard tinnitus described as one of the worst conditions outside terminal illness and unfortunately, I can identify with that. The noise is constantly there screaming at you and no one can know just how loud it is."

Like many people with tinnitus, Mr Miles has discovered a lack of awareness and shortage of effective treatments. "I've tried one or two things but they haven't worked and a homeopathic remedy I once used resulted in high blood pressure. Some of these things aren't as harmless as they seem and people should be aware of the possible side effects," he warned.

Three years on, Mr Miles has gradually learned to deal with tinnitus day by day and is happy to report that in some situations it is less intrusive. "If I'm busy in the garden or out socially where there are other sounds or conversation, it isn't as bad," he said. "Things are better than they were in the beginning and I am learning to live with it but I still hope it might one day start to recede or that someone will find a cure," 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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