Living with tinnitus
After a loud concert Jim Sewell, 27, got a ringing sound in his ears - and it never went away.
“I used to go to a lot of clubs and often I would have a ringing in my ears for a day or two. However, I noticed it wouldn’t go away several days after a particularly loud Prodigy concert at Brixton Academy in 2009,” said Jim.
Jim still lives with the ringing sound. He is diagnosed with tinnitus and feels it is important that people become aware of the risks.
According to the British Tinnitus Association (BTA), tinnitus affects 10 per cent of the British population and there is no cure for it. Tinnitus is a condition where you experience a constant ringing sound in your ears.
The word ‘tinnitus’ comes from the Latin word for ‘ringing’. This noise may be heard in one ear, in both ears or in the middle of the head, or it may be difficult to pinpoint its exact location.
Jim said: “Lots of young people have no clue they could end up with tinnitus, and even if they do, they’re not aware of how serious it is. I can't really sleep properly, and I have to avoid loud situations.”
Your own responsibility
Graham Vincent, 30, from London, suffers from both significant hearing loss and tinnitus. He needs hearing aids to get through his daily life. He used to expose himself to loud music often, both at home and while going out.
Graham said: "[Tinnitus] drains me of my energy and I can’t help but focus on it. Everyone’s tinnitus is different in pitch, sound and volume. Mine is very loud all the time, and changes in pitch and tone all the time. It is so unbearable that I can’t sleep and I feel very unhappy.”
Graham thinks it is people’s own responsibility to protect their ears.
“People know the dangers but play along anyway. They don’t think it will happen to them. Having tinnitus is not cool,” said Graham.
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2011-05-18 19:49:41
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