Tinnitus Awareness Week is taking place this year from 5 – 11 February 2018. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the condition which is thought to affect as many as 1 in 10 of the population. This means that around 6 million people in the UK suffer from tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the perception of noises in the head and/or ear which have no external source. People who suffer with the condition will often hear a ringing noise in their ears. Others hear a buzzing, hissing, whistling or other noise. There are also people who will hear a familiar tune or song played over and over. Tinnitus is permanent. There is no cure.
Employees who are exposed to work in the course of their employment are at risk of developing tinnitus as well as noise induced hearing loss. Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, anyone exposed to levels of noise greater than 85db is required to wear hearing protection. Quite often hearing protection will not be provided meaning that these employees are continually being exposed to high levels of noise. As a result they develop a hearing loss and tinnitus.
It is also possible for people to develop tinnitus as a result of a head injury. In these cases there will usually be no accompanying hearing loss.
Tinnitus can have a profound effect on those who suffer from it. Concentration and sleep are often affected. It can also leave people feeling anxious and have an effect on their mental health.
At Jackson Boyd we have a great deal of experience in dealing with individuals who suffer from tinnitus as a result of being exposed to loud noise in the course of their employment or as a result of sustaining a head injury in an accident. We understand the frustrations and difficulties associated with such a condition and the effect it has.
If you have developed tinnitus as a result of an accident or exposure to loud noise then please contact us online by clicking here or speak to a member of our specialist team on 0333 222 1855.
