BETHLEHEM, Pa., May 14, 2012 - Have you heard? May 13-19 is Tinnitus Awareness Week.
Tinnitus is the condition described as ringing in the ears when no external sounds are present. According to the American Tinnitus Association, which sponsors Tinnitus Awareness Week, more than 50 million people in the United States suffer from the condition. Usually brought on by exposure to loud noise, the problem is especially significant in the military, with more than 34 percent of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from the condition.
In conjunction with May's designation as "Better Hearing and Speech Month," the ATA is setting aside the week to raise national public awareness, knowledge and understanding of tinnitus, and the need for increased tinnitus research funding.
Diagnosing tinnitus
Diagnosing tinnitus can be challenging at times, says Curtis Amann, director of marketing and sales for Neuromonics, Inc., which manufactures and distributes the only FDA-cleared, patented and clinically proven medical device designed for long-term significant relief of tinnitus. "Tinnitus disturbance is different for everyone, but those suffering from it often describe it as ringing, buzzing, humming, roaring, or whistling sounds," he says.
Many people experience mild and/or temporary tinnitus that is not bothersome enough to require treatment. Many others suffer to the degree that they also experience frustration, stress, depression and confusion, says Amann. Professional audiologists can best diagnose tinnitus, and the degree of the condition. The following questions can serve as a guide to help individuals determine if it is time to seek out an audiologist for as an assessment.
- Do the sounds heard interfere with enjoyment of life?
- Do the sounds make it hard to concentrate?
- Do the sounds make it hard to relax?
- Do the sounds interfere with sleep?
- Do the sounds induce a feeling of frustration?
- Do the sounds lead to avoidance of social situations?
Neuromonics also offers a short track of the sounds of tinnitus. Sufferers - along with family, friends and associates - can often obtain a better understanding of the condition after listening, says Amann.
"Today, there is real hope for tinnitus sufferers, with greater understanding of the condition, more audiologists with knowledge, and more effective treatments than ever before," explains Amann. "Determining whether or not one has tinnitus, and if so, what level, is the first step in getting relief."
Neuromonics, Inc. (www.neuromonics.com)
Based in Bethlehem, Pa., Neuromonics, Inc., manufactures and distributes the FDA-cleared, patented and clinically proven medical device designed for long-term significant relief of tinnitus. With research and development beginning in the early 1990s, the Neuromonics Tinnitus Treatment has helped thousands of tinnitus sufferers improve their quality of life and overcome the daily life challenges associated with tinnitus. The treatment has been featured on national news media including "The Doctors" and CNN.
For more information about Neuromonics visit www.neuromonics.com or the Neuromonics Web Channel on Audiology Online.
