Hi all,

Im new to these forums, I hope you dont mind me posting

I am an undergraduate studying Graphic Design at Bath Spa University. I am currently starting a 'Self directed project' which includes promoting a subject that means something to myself - and what better than my tinnitus!

I am hoping to create a campaign that promotes awareness of tinnitus to a younger audience using a 'shock tactic' theme.

I was just wondering if I could receive a bit of feedback from other tinnitus sufferers to help me with my research and generate a few ideas!

Anything information will be useful, but for example the following would be interesting to know

- What does your tinnitus noise remind you of? (Mine sounds like a stereotypical spaceship noise!)
- What does it/has it stopped you doing? If anything?
- How does it effect you day to day?
- How do you deal with tinnitus?
- Any websites that have given you good information/statistics on tinnitus?

As I said, these are just examples - ANYTHING will be a great help to me and my research Or if your feeling really brave, any ideas that you think would make a good campaign!

Thank you

Nick

Hi Nick,

I am a 22 year old undergraduate at westminster in London. Im a big (every weekend) clubber, and I have permanent tinnitus.

It reminds me of clubbing, in a psychological sense. I connect the T to all the good times that I have whilst clubbing. This helps me not to have 'regrets' about getting the T. It sounds like many things. Mainly an electrical feedback 'hissing' sound, chirping and sometimes a howling wind sound. Rarely do I actually get a true 'ringing' sound, which has made it hard to determine the frequency of the T.

It has not stopped me doing anything, other than standing on top of speakers, and the other stupid stuff I used to do. I still club every week, but I now use professional earplugs and stand away from the soundsystem.

Day to day it doesnt really affect me. Its always there, but theres nothing I can do about it so i've adopted it into my life. Rather than fight tinnitus, I live with tinnitus. I often find it quite useful for guaging if an environment is too noisy, and I find it helps me to sleep as the sounds are quite therapeutic. (I cannot sleep with silence, but note that I am quite unique with this, many T sufferers find sleep the worst part).

I would say the best way of dealing with tinnitus is not to approach it as a battle. It won't go away, so dont try and make it go away. The only thing one should do is to educate themselves on hearing protection. This is the only thing in my life that tinnitus has changed, I now look after my hearing.

As for what would make a good campaign. Many young people do not realise that temporary ringing after noise exposure is a sign of hearing damage. This has to get accross to people. The shift from temporary to permanent can happen at any time, any age.

Also, the ringing that often follows a night out is not usually representative of permanent tinnitus. PEOPLE DO NOT REALISE THAT 'RINGING EARS' AND 'CHRONIC TINNITUS' ARE VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

Perhaps try making a recording of the various other sounds that T sufferers report, so that people can hear first hand what the condition sounds like

Ringing, chirping, hissing, howling, whooshing, metallic scraping, booming, ticking, screaming and even musical sounds are reported.

Also, many young people do not understand how the ear works. Its not as resilient as eyesight, and noises above 85db are risky on a regular basis. If people understood about hair cell damage and metabolic exhaustion, they would take more care.

Finally, EARPLUGS. foam plugs are no good for the music lover as they block out the harmonics and higher frequencies. People need to be made aware that musicians earplugs both exist, and work. They make music BETTER as they filter out the unwanted distortion. Most DJ's wear them. EARPLUGS ARE COOL!

Good luck

Sonny

Hi Nick,
your project certainly sounds interesting. Well heres my answers to your questions:
my tinnitus reminds me of a broken computer and sometimes a broken refridgerator.
it has stopped me enjoying things like going to the cinema, concerts, I have to avoid noisy pubs, clubs are a definate no no. It affects me day to day as normal noise becomes a worry. I have to avoid noisy situations, even standing near a busy road causes it to get worse, I cannot be carefree like i used to be and i find it hard to block my tinnitus out. I deal with it by trying to keep busy and at night i have a sound pyramid whih has natural sounds such as the ocean as well as either my ipod with mini speakers or a radio. a good website is the british tinnitus association and www.puretone.co.uk.
I think a good campaign would be to take this info into schools and warn them of the dangers of things like listening to their i pods too loud, concerts, discos etc and stress the importance of wearing ear protection in noisy environments, maybe tell them what its like living with tinnitus to give them a better understanding

Hi Nick,

Thought I would add a few more points. As this is aimed at young people I think there is another aspect that you could include. Hearing protection is important, but its equally if not MORE important for people to understand how loud music can be made safer from the soundsystem.

When setting up speakers it is the high range and upper/mids that primarily damage the ears. Position the tweeters and mid-drivers slightly above the head or below. High frequency sounds travel almost straight, so positioning speakers in such a way as to avoid a 'direct hit' can substantially lower the damage. Clubs/gigs that direct the cones towards the audience should know better.

Also, power does not = good music. Music lovers should focus instead on timbre and clarity. A good bassy feel feel with precise harmonics is often achieved at lower volume, and produces less distortion....and its better for the ears.

Ipods = hearing damage. We all love to hear music on the go, but earbuds will damage the ears. Just leave the ipod at home. If you really must use an ipod but some noise attenuating headphones and dont EVER go above 3/4 volume.

Thanks

Sonny

Hello Sonny,

Thanks very much mate, information about using the tinnitus to represent good times is very unique. I suffer from a non-constant form of tinnitus, where it only starts when I am in quiet environments... Very odd and took me a while to get used to (sleeping was a NIGHTMARE!), but now, like you, i actually find it hard to sleep without the tinnitus and have just embraced it.. I think thats the best way! I also go out a lot, which student doesn't! Thanks for the info on the musicians earplugs, I will defo be looking into this as a promotion tool!

Also some very interesting info on the way speakers are set up, i will investigate this and add it to my research!

And Hello Halo83,
A broken computer and fridge put some good ideas in my head, i can imagine the droning of either would represent the sound of tinnitus very well! Also, a big shame you now have to avoid noisy environments, but also a very valid and meaningful point that people should protect there hearing at all costs!

Keep the ideas and comments coming this is great

Cheers Guys!

- What does your tinnitus noise remind you of?

I have several noises. The worst is a sharp hissing sound emanating from the left side of my head (not quite my ear). It's like high pressure air escaping from a thin hole. I also have high frequency ringing and mid-frequency ringing like brakes squealing.

- What does it/has it stopped you doing? If anything?

It's stopped me doing everything. I never leave the house anymore.

- How does it effect you day to day?

It has debilitated me as much as any illness could.

- How do you deal with tinnitus?

I have tried everything and have been unsuccessful. I have just slowly but surely sunk into a deep depression.

- Any websites that have given you good information/statistics on tinnitus?

Not really. Only the ATA (and perhaps the BTA) are reliable and they both just paint the grim reality that is life with tinnitus.

Are you aware of this week's BTA campaign?

http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/ (external link, opens new browser window)

Thank you for your comments guys, very much appreciated!

H. - Yea I was aware off this campaign, but not before i had handed in my University Brief proposal... Will be good to see what they come up with in contrast to me

Comment before H. - Your T sounds like it is affecting you a lot.. Man it must be bad Thank you for your contribution though!

Cheers guys!

Hi Nick,

It is really good that you are doing something like this, it is so important to get the message across to young people.

Im 31 and have had tinnitus for just over 3 years. It took me a long time to get used to it and everytime it gets worse it is like you are back at square one.

My one ear has a few different ringing tones and the other one sounds like the buzzing of a computer. It has affected my life quite alot, especially recently as it has gotten a lot worse. I rarely go to loud bars/clubs anymore and when I do I always wear earplugs. Have learnt recently that I also need to wear them in the cinema.

Mine is alot worse now than what it was a year ago and it does make me very paranoid and anxious. It makes me so aware of how loud everything is. It really affects me when I am trying to concentrate. The worst thing is when I watch telly, it seems to make it worse for some reason.

I know alot of people really struggle with sleep and yes that is one of the times you hear it most but I just think oh well i will be asleep in a minute so wont hear it haha.

I think clubs/gigs need to be plastered with posters about tinnitus to make people aware of the damage they are potentially doing. Maybe there should be some kind of law restricting the volume this places can have. Some clubs are so loud its crazy. Its not good enough for people to say you could be damaging your hearing, people need to know they could get this constant noise for the rest of their lives.

I carry earplugs around with me all the time now, just incase i encounter something noisy. I really hope a cure is found sometime in the near future.

Good luck with your study.

K

- What does your tinnitus noise remind you of? like a amplifier is on but no sound
- What does it/has it stopped you doing? If anything?
No more ipod, no concerts, ear plugs if I know im going somewhere loud
- How does it effect you day to day?
morning and night is the worst
- How do you deal with tinnitus?
talk about it, keep busy, get really sad sometimes, alot of regret, talk more about it. Hoping one day theres a cure =]
- Any websites that have given you good information/statistics on tinnitus?
just here