| On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your | | | | symptoms. Finding relief can be an expensive journey. |
| tinnitus? If you rated it higher than a five, then it's | | | | Many are spending anywhere from $100/month on |
| most likely that the constant ringing in the ears is | | | | anti-depressants to $2,500.00 for tinnitus retraining |
| interfering with your happiness, your life, and your | | | | therapy. In many cases, patients will spend thousands |
| well being. | | | | more on anyone or anything that will give them |
| Occurrences of tinnitus are on the rise and noise | | | | promise of relief. |
| induced tinnitus seems to be the one making the | | | | There has been continuous research both in the |
| most headlines, due to the expressed concern over | | | | medical and scientific fields for a cure. However, I |
| iPods and other music related sound systems. There | | | | wonder how difficult it must be to compete for |
| still seems to be quite a lack of awareness out there | | | | funding in the face of other epidemics like bird flu, |
| about the dangers of noise induced hearing loss and | | | | aids, and rising cancer rates. How many people must |
| tinnitus. | | | | suffer from tinnitus before the pharmaceutical |
| You don't have to look far to find evidence of that. | | | | companies spend large budgets on research? Any |
| Just walk into your nearest movie theatre and feel | | | | search on Google will reveal that millions are already |
| the noise decibels penetrate your entire body. The | | | | suffering from tinnitus and this is a real serious global |
| audio levels are very often so unnecessarily loud that | | | | medical problem. |
| it borders on noise pollution! I actually wear ear plugs | | | | But, the biggest question still remains; why are we |
| when I go see movies. Most people don't have a | | | | not doing more to create awareness about noise |
| problem with the volume though. Well, at least not | | | | induced tinnitus? We are a socially responsible society, |
| until they wake up one day with chronic tinnitus. | | | | are we not? We properly label cigarettes, trans fat |
| Though I am a huge advocate of live music, mainly | | | | products, age-appropriate toys, movies, games and |
| because that's what I do for a living, I'm still | | | | dangerous goods. It seems to me that the next step |
| dismayed to see concert goers hanging out right | | | | may be to lobby manufacturers to put warning labels |
| beside the speakers! There are no warning signs that | | | | on their audio systems and make the event |
| indicate "danger, close a proximity to these devices | | | | producers give clear warnings at their loud events. |
| may cause hearing loss or tinnitus." Maybe there | | | | These notices could read something like, "loud noise |
| should be a law that obliges festivals, clubs, and | | | | exposure can cause temporary or permanent hearing |
| venue owners to promote awareness against | | | | loss and tinnitus." |
| temporary or permanent hearing loss and tinnitus | | | | Exactly how long will the insurance companies, |
| caused by exposure to loud noise. | | | | manufacturers, event producers and government |
| There is no cure for tinnitus. And, most insurance | | | | officials try to ignore this growing world wide |
| companies still do not recognize tinnitus as a | | | | epidemic? Exactly how long will it be before this |
| debilitating condition and therefore will not cover | | | | collective pool of millions of people get together to |
| medical expenses or loss of income caused by | | | | affect corporate change and ask for warning labels |
| chronic suffering. However, tinnitus is often severe | | | | on loud noise producing products? How long will it be |
| enough for many sufferers to seek medical attention. | | | | before the insurance companies recognize tinnitus as |
| And, as most tinnitus patients will tell you, it is a long | | | | a medical issue? How long will it be before the |
| road ahead for anyone looking for relief from tinnitus | | | | message goes out loud and clear? |