“I thought my awareness of tinnitus would be enough to succeed for me; I’d seen too many DJs turn up the volume to ‘feel the music’ and end up with tinnitus,” says Caren of Leamington Spa. “Working from my home studio, voicing TV and radio ads, I was as careful as I could be. The hum in my ears actually started after a particularly bad virus, so I wasn’t sure if that had caused the Tinnitus or if it was the result of my radio work.”
Caren was referred to a neurologist and to the local ENT (ears, nose and throat) department, where she had numerous head scans which produced negative results. “I was still no closer to finding out what had caused the tinnitus,” she adds.
Soon after, Caren moved house and saw the opportunity to consult a new GP in the hope of different advice. To her dismay, the doctor told her that “greater minds than ours have looked into this and found nothing,” and that tinnitus was “far beyond the realms of medical knowledge”. “The maddening thing was that private healthcare seemed the only option, my GP having made it clear that he could not help as he couldn’t find anything physical as a cause.”
When she is trying to concentrate, Caren uses a sound generator, a small device which produces its own sound to mask the tinnitus; and she switches on Classic FM to lull her to sleep. Caren is thankful for being one of the few tinnitus sufferers whose sleep hasn’t been affected by the illness and has avoided the sleeping pills and antidepressants that many sufferers have succumbed to.
Instead, she has learnt to keep a positive outlook - her frame of mind is the strongest treatment available for Caren today. Still working as a voice artist, Caren wasn’t going to allow tinnitus prevent her from pursuing her dreams and live a normal life.” At first I was thinking I can’t live with this, I was conscious people would think I’m mad but I’ve learnt that a positive mind is the most important thing. If you allow yourself to take notice of the constant ringing it can easily sink you into depression. I do everything I can to fight it – learning how to ignore it is my greatest weapon in the fight against tinnitus.” This is how Caren tackles life with tinnitus at a time when “there doesn’t seem to be any lasting or successful treatment.”
Caren is committed to finding a treatment for her tinnitus and has asked to be referred to a different ENT department. “I’m determined not to let tinnitus beat me, and I hope one day that there will be a successful treatment to end it for good,” says Caren. “I want to know anything that’s new about tinnitus and I’m signed up to get regular newsletters from Deafness Research UK which tell me what research is being done, but if I have to live with it forever then so be it.”
Deafness Research UK is the country's only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for the deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people including tinnitus sufferers like Caren.
Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said: “Over six million people in the UK are affected by tinnitus and it can have a devastating effect on their quality of life. Not enough is known about this very complex condition and we are determined to do something about it. We are committed to funding leading research and providing practical information to health professionals for the benefit of sufferers.”
‘Deafness Research UK has produced a useful guide called ‘Managing Tinnitus’. To receive a copy telephone 0808 808 2222 or email info@deafnessresearch.org.uk. For information on research into deafness and other hearing conditions, log on to the website, www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
ENDS
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Ref: DRUK0075 – Caren James www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
