Tinnitus is experienced by one in 10 people across the UK, but this invisible condition is often neglected. The aim of Tinnitus Awareness Day is to improve understanding of tinnitus and the issues that people with tinnitus have to face, and to provide authoritative information on therapy options, give advice on managing tinnitus and promote support networks.

New research commissioned by Action for Tinnitus Research (ATR) on the prevalence and impact of tinnitus will be released on Tinnitus Awareness Day 2005, which is on 22 March.

Information and support

Emma Peacock, Tinnitus Information Manager at RNID says: "Conflicting information and misunderstanding of tinnitus can cause a lot of distress for people experiencing it. We often get calls from people worried that they will go deaf because of tinnitus or devastated that expensive treatments, which are scientifically unproven, have not had the promised results. Through Tinnitus Awareness Day we hope the public are more informed on where to get information and support should they ever need it."

Paul Pennington, Head of External Communications from ATR, says: "All too often we are approached by people with tinnitus who feel that their 'condition' has been neglected. Tinnitus Awareness Day is an opportunity to show that this is far from the truth and that organisations like RNID and ourselves are working tirelessly to provide help and support, and fund research that will hopefully bring the day closer when people with tinnitus can experience a better quality of life."