NE\WSU

VOLUME 3, NO. l January, 1978

The American Tinnitus Association
TINNITUS CLINIC UPDATE by G.Reich
As of December 31, 1977, one hundred and twenty
three people from eighty-three different locations
have visited and observed the Tinnitus Clinic at
the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center
in Portland Oregon.
For those professional hearing specialists who wish
to establish clinics, here is the current picture.
Our observer appointments are backlogged for months.
However, we are giving scheduling preference to
persons in those states which do not presently have
Tinnitus Clinics.
ATA is hoping to bring a tinnitus certification
seminar series to six or more major population
centers later this spring. At this time planning
and scheduling are dependent on the arrival of some
important tinnitus testing equipment. When this
equipment is on line we will be able to proceed
with seminar plans and will let you know either
by personal invitation or by an article in the
ATA Newsletter .
l ~ a n y of you have written to us already with questions
about these proposed seminars. Some of them can be
answered now and more information will be forth-
coming.
The location of the seminars will be determined by
interest from the area. For instance, we have had
many letters from patients and professionals who
live and work on the eastern seaboard. Therefore ,
it is quite likely that at least one of the
seminars will take place in that area.
Each seminar will be limited to fifty participants.
Preferred reservations will be given to ATA pro-
fessional sustaining members; however, all Oto-
laryngologists, Otologists, Audiologists and Hearing
Aid Dispensers are encouraged to attend.
While most ti nnitus maskers and tinnitus instruments
will ultimately be dispensed by a hearing instru-
ment dealer, we expect an interdisciplinary-team
approach for the tinnitus clinics as modeled after
the Tinnitus Clinic at the Oregon medical school.
Thus we are requiring the endorsement of a co-
operating Otolaryngologist or Otologist for seminar
reservation.
Where possible the meetings will be held at Airport
Hotel-Motel complexes. The meetings will last one
day from approximately 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. All work-
shop materials will be provided and lunch and coffee
will be served. Each participant who completes the
work at the seminar will be authorized by ATA to
dispense the maskers and tinnitus instruments.
These seminars will be an excellent opportunity for
you to broaden your skills to include the tinnitus
testing procedures which have been developed at the
University of Oregon Health Sciences Center.
If you wish to make an appointment to be an observer
at the clinic in Portland, please call Herlene Benson
(503) 225-8032. For information about future seminars
in your area contact Mrs. Gloria Reich at the American
Tinnitus Association office (503) 248-9985.
Recent Tinnitus Ctinic ObaePVers: teft to right,
Jerry Kiester, M.A., Audiologist, West DeaMoinea,
Iowa; Gordon Thomas, M.D., Auburn, Washington;
John Roberts, B.A. Audiologist, Edmonton, Atberta,
Canada; John Fletcher, Ph.D., University of Tennessee,
Memphis, Tennessee; Barry Waas, Ph.D., AudioZogiat,
V. A. Hospital, Washington, D.C.
lETTERS, WE GET lETTERS .. Ill I.
The Tinnitus Sufferer in the U. K.
One of the main feelings that a tinnitus sufferer
experiences in this country is a sense of lonliness
and that no-one cares - we feel 'forgotten' . Because
tinnitus does not kill -or does it -there have been
cases of suicide, we have been badly neglected as a
Group, in the past especially. Thankfully, things
are beginning to change now, although very slowly.
All too often Doctors dismiss patients with the words
'You will have to learn to live with your noises',
whilst handing out a Prescription for a bottle of
sleeping pills and tranquilisers, which often causes
the patients'noises to become more severe. One
tinnitus sufferer, who wrote to me last year, and
in some distress, wrote saying that one Doctor
had told her that she could always take her own
life if her noises became unbearable. It seems
that this Doctor was extremely fed up of her con-
tinually coming back to the surgery for something
for her noises, but he should never have said what
he did say. Many other tinnitus sufferers have
written to say that they were told that they were
simply imagining their noises, and, as a result,
some have suffered nervous breakdowns. Too many
Doctors seem unable to cope with a dis-
tressed, and often very frightened tinr.itus
sufferer.
Although approximately 1 in 10 people are said to
suffer from tinnitus, when speaking to people about
it, most sufferers find that they have never heard
of such a complaint. Most have had distressing
experiences. For example, in my own case, during
the first few months of being a sufferer, I was
trying to explain to a woman I knew (or thought I
knew) what tinnitus was like. She gave me such
a terrified look as if she thought I might attack
her physically at any moment, made some excuse
about having to dash off to receive a visitor at
home, and off she went. Whenever she sees me now
she avoids me. At first I was shocked and dis-
tressed, but fortunately, I can now see the funny
side of that experience and can laugh about it ..
however, there are many who have had similar ex-
periences, and who remain deeply hurt - unable to
speak to anyone again about their tinnitus, for
fear of receiving the same hurtful reaction.
Just over one year ago I tried to get a half-hour
television programme put out about tinnitus. The
Producer wrote to me, showing great interest, and a
Researcher rang me up, asking for further infor-
mation etc., he rang off with the words 'I shall be
in touch with you at a later date again'. Several
i)a&t and I nothing, so I wr.ote to
the Programme Producer again, asking why I had not
heard further from them. I received a reply back
from a new Producer, who was most sympathetic, but
was not keen to carry on with the idea of putting
on a programme about tinnitus, as had been the
previous Producer - and that was that! Great
disappointment! I thought such a programme could
do a lot to help tinnitus sufferers, and to dispel
a lot of ignorance surrounding this complaint -
bringing about a little caring, sympathy and
understanding into being for the tinnitus sufferer.
I wonder if a programme on tinnitus has been put
out on American Television, and if so, how
successful was it?
I have made out a small 'Tinnitus Self-Help'
Poster, which my Doctor has had pinned upon the
Surgery Waiting Room Notice Board, and I am hoping
this idea will spread. The Poster reads -
Hearing Things? Tinnitus Sufferer has started a
"Tinnitus Self-Help'. Do not feel 'alone' or in
'dispair' - a chat could do a lot to help, or write
for a leaflet. I have suggested that a Poster,
giving information about tinnitus, be made out by
R.N.I.D. of London, and copies circulated around
the country to all Surgeries, Hospitals and other
suitable public places.
It is a very encouraging to know that research work
goes on to try to find a cure for tinnitus. Mr.
Hazell (F.R.C.S.) of R.N.I.D., London is doing
great work, and contratulations to ATA who are
doing so much for tinnitus sufferers. Let us
hope and pray that one day, in the not too distant
future, a cure will be found for tinnitus.
My very best wishes for 1978 to all at ATA and to all
tinnitus sufferers in the U.S.A.
Marlene Jones (Mrs) 1-1-78
P.S. To date, I have received approx. 7,000 letters
from tinnitus sufferers in this country.
We wouZd Uke to thank Mrs. Jones for sharing !Jith
us and our readers her thoughts on tinnitus and the
progress she has made in Engl-and. We hope that she
wi ZZ keep in touch 1Ji th us so that we may share
mutual. probZems and sol-utions.
Gentlemen:
Thank you very much for the beautiful reproduction of
the photomicrograph of the human hair cells. I par-
ticularly appreciate the lovely inscription regarding
conquering tinnitus. Certainly, we are all doing
everything we can to help this most annoying symptom
of ear disease.
The picture will be on display in my office as a
reminder to me that we still fighting the battle.
Thank you again for your kindness in sending me this
lovely token of our work with tinnitus.
Sincerely yours,
John W. House, M.D.
Otologic Medical Group, Inc.
Dr. House's kind Zetter is in response to a contri-
bution he made to the American Tinnitus Association
for which he received the handsome pictured
beZow. It is of a cochl-ear hair ceZZ magnified
24, 000 times.
Have you wondered what being tested by tinnitus
might be like? The following picture shows you
some of the equipment now in use which will be
replaced by the tinnitus synthesizer as soon as
it'savailable. Its a conglomeration of very
expensive items , only of which a portion is being
shown. The equipment is housed in a double walled
acoustic chamber and the tinnitus patient is tested
while sittfng to the left of this equipment.
In our next issue of the Newsletter we will print
a letter of a patient who describes how he felt
during the testing procedures and what he learned
about his particular case of tinnitus.
We especiaZZy anxious for our next issue be-
cause Dr. House from the Otologic Group in Los
Angeles wiZZ his work in biofeedback
as it pertains to tinnitus patients.
The American
Tinnitus Aaaoc.
invites you to
one of their
Wednesday meetings
if you happen to be
in the area. The
meetings last about an
hour and start at 12:30.
CaU Mrs. Reich if you
would like to attend
(503) 248-9985
Usually there are
approximately
10 - 12 persons
who roegu.larly
attend, and
visitors are
always encouroaged
to join the
group. Subjects
discussed range
from new cZinics .. .
patient reporots ... .
to sharing ex-
periences of
tinnitus suffer>er>s.
MOVING?
Please let us avoid missing you
by supplying us with your new
address.
zip. ______ _
Advisory Board
HONORABLE DEL CLAWSON
Unt ted States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. ATA Newsletter
DAVID 0. DeWEESE, "1.0. Herlene Benson, Editor
Chairman Dept. Otolaryngology 3515 s. w. Veterans Hoa.,.;-ta'L Rd.
University of Oregon rv
Health Sciences Center Portland, Oregon 97201
THE HONORABLE MARK 0. HATFIELD
United States Senate
Washington, D.C.
ROBERT W. HOCKS
National Chai nnan ATA
Hocks Laboratories
Portland, Oregon
DAVID H. PLANT
2789 - 25th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
CHARLES UNICE, M.D.
10601 Horley Avenue
Downey, CA 90241
37 million suffer from
tinnitus
Last fall Mr. Robert Hocks and Mrs. Gloria Reich
attended the American Academy of Otolaryngology and
Ophthalmology meetings in Dallas, Texas. There were
many inquiries from the professionals attending the
meetings and our mailing list Increased by a con-
siderable number. The dedication and hard work pro-
vided by these two people have made it possible for
the American Tinnitus Association to reach so many
tinnitus sufferers.
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
Regular Member s 10 or more 0
Sustaining Member $ 25 or more 0
Professional
$100 or more
0
Sustaining Member
Benefactor $500 or more 0
YOUR GIFT IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE
Do you know someone who has tinnitus and would like to receive our newsletter?
Name ______________________ _
Address---------------,---,------
State, Zip
The American Tinnitus Association
P. 0. Box 5
Portland, Oregon 97207
(503) 248 9985
Non-Profit Organ.
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PAID
Permit No. 722
Portland, Oregon