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Tinnitus Awareness Week 2010

2010-02-02- The Tinnitus Awareness Week is organised by the British Tinnitus Association. The BTA is hoping to reach thousands of people of all ages across the country while focusing on two relevant themes; the effect of stress on tinnitus and the risks of exposure to loud music. By raising awareness of these two important issues the BTA aims to encourage better hearing health and to highlight ways in which tinnitus may be prevented.

For advice, support and information about tinnitus call the BTA freephone helpline on 0800 018 0527 or visit the BTA online at www.tinnitus.org.uk

3rd - 9th May 2009 Deaf Awareness Week

2010-01-08 - During this week organisations working with deaf people across the country are inviting everyone to 'Look At Me'. The aim is to inform on the different types of deafness by highlighting the many different methods of communication used by hearing impaired people, such as sign language and lipreading.

Over one hundred deaf charities and organisations under the umbrella of the UK Council support the Deaf Awareness Week which involves a UK wide series of national and local events.

Source
UK Council on Deafness

Early hope for tinnitus

2010-01-08 - Research has raised the possibility of successfully treating the ear-ringing disorder tinnitus soon after its onset. Some forms of the condition are associated with spontaneous nerve activity in the brain.
 
A team from the University of Western Australia showed this activity is, for a time, dependent on nerve signals generated in the inner ear.
They believe it might be possible to treat tinnitus - for a limited period - by reducing these signals from the ear. Tinnitus causes an unpleasant ringing, buzzing or whistling sound in one or both ears, or the head.
 
The researchers, working on animals, found that this increased activity could be reduced back down to normal levels by reducing nerve signals coming from the inner ear. They achieved this in three ways: by removing a part of the inner ear called the cochlea, by cooling it down, and - crucially - by using drugs to block generation of the nervous impulses.
However, their work also suggested that after about six weeks, the increased nerve activity generated in the brain becomes independent of input from the ears.
This suggests that if tinnitus can be treated by dampening down nerve signals from the ear, it must be done swiftly before the condition becomes irreversibly established.
 
The researchers said further work was needed to find ways to exploit this potential window of opportunity.

Source
BBC News