Sight & Hearing Association

	- May 2005 (View past health issues)
Tinnitus

It is sometimes described as ringing, buzzing, hissing, whining or clanging. Tinnitus (pro: TIN-ni-tus or tin-NIGHT-us), commonly referred to as head noises, affects approximately 50 million Americans. Its impact can range from straightforward annoyance to a debilitating level that may result in loss of work, disruption of family life and withdrawal from everyday life activities. Although there isn't yet a cure for tinnitus, there are effective treatments that help many people live successfully with the condition. And researchers are working on cures.

May 21-28, 2005, is Tinnitus Awareness Week throughout the United States. The goal of the week is to spread the word that needless exposure to loud noise can permanently damage hearing and lead to tinnitus.

Tinnitus can occur at any time in life, affecting men and women equally. As our environments and lives become noisier, many people are vulnerable if they don't know the simple rules for protecting their hearing:
    1. Turn down the volume when it's too loud
    2. Use earplugs or earmuffs in noisy environments
    3. Walk away from noises that are too loud

Please check out our tinnitus fact sheet for more information about the causes, symptoms and treatments. (Click here to see a fact sheet on Tinnitus)

Cape Cod Times (Mass.) recently published an article about tinnitus. http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/health/ear21.htm

Another excellent link is the American Tinnitus Association's Web site at http://www.ata.org.