As it is Tinnitus Awareness Week, it is crucial to point out why it is important to talk about tinnitus as a disability and why we should be aware of it. Tinnitus is a form of a hearing disability which is also known as ‘Ringing of the ears’, ‘buzzing sounds’ or ‘a whistling sound’ by most of its sufferers. Occasionally, people could have a combination of these noises which could be in one or both ears.
People usually ignore these symptoms as it is often quite hard to understand where the sound is coming from and they usually believe that it is not just them hearing it. Also, tinnitus is often seen as a disability only suffered by ‘old people’ which means that younger individuals who are suffering from it, often ignore the symptoms as they think it would go away at some point.
It has been found that the intensity of these noises can depend on several things such as the time of the day or the individual’s physical posture. It may be that they hear one (or all) of these sounds in the evening after a long day, in the morning as they wake up, or also after listening to some loud music during the day (But the noises remain and do not go away). With relation to posture, some individuals may find that the frequency of the noises can increase or reduce when they’re moving or when they’re standing still.
Tinnitus can be caused by:
- Exposure to loud sound
- Working in noisy environments
- High blood pressure
- Medications side effect
- Hearing loss due to age
- Ear infections
Tinnitus is also a second form of hearing loss as it would point out that there’s a hearing issue and perhaps there may have been some noise damage in the past – particularly if you have worked in a noisy environment. The vast majority of people consider tinnitus and hearing loss as one thing, however certain people could have tinnitus without completely losing their hearing. An article by an hearing aid organisation points out that 90% do have hearing loss and only 10% experience constant symptoms without losing their hearing. If you believe you have developed tinnitus or hearing loss due to your working career, your employer may be responsible. An Employer is responsible for providing their employees with the right PPE to perform their job safely. If you believe you have suffered tinnitus or hearing loss due to a place of work, you may be entitled to compensation.
We can imagine how much of a burden it would be to those affected by this due to the unwanted noises they would be hearing. Therefore, tinnitus can lead to depression and anxiety due to the fact that these noises are constant and mostly louder when it is quiet. It has been reported that 2.5% of people with Tinnitus tend to visit the hospital due to being depressed for having this disability.
With the information provided, it is important to show our support and love for those who have this disability. It is also important to be aware of those around us who may be showing these symptoms to point them to the help they need. Our help could be the difference between them embracing this issue and manage it rather than becoming depressed and stressed. It is also crucial to make them aware that if the tinnitus was gained through work (By being exposed to noises without being provided with the right gears), they can claim against the company and get compensated for it.
Industrial Deafness Reports
Here at UKExpertMedical, we work with medical professionals nationwide to support those who have suffered from hearing loss due to a place of work. Over the last 10 years, we instructed more than 40,000 audiologists which form our medico legal reports on behalf of solicitors seeking support on Medico-Legal cases for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. And, in keeping with our core values of client care, we arrange tinnitus retraining therapy to support clients who were in need of tinnitus rehabilitation. If you’re suffering from Tinnitus, Hearing Loss or you are a solicitor representing a client and require our services, speak to one of our experts today.
