CHESTERFIELD MP TACKLES TINNITUS WITH HELP FROM RNID

Chesterfield MP Paul Holmes has pledged to help an estimated 10,000 (1) constituents to tackle tinnitus - the medical term for noises inside the ears or head - after experiencing it firsthand at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference this week.

Paul Holmes donned special 'tinnitus headphones' in workplace and home environments at the RNID and Unum conference stand in Brighton to find out for himself how distracting tinnitus can be.

RNID research reveals that 15 per cent of people have experienced tinnitus, but 70 per cent of GPs surveyed by the charity have never had any training on the condition (2).

RNID, which represents the UK's 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people, has joined forces with Unum, the UK's leading disability insurer, to call on GPs to improve the advice and support they give patients with tinnitus (3) and to support people with tinnitus in their efforts to lead a full life, including at work.

Paul Holmes said: "I was shocked to put on the tinnitus headphones and find out just how difficult it can be to relax at home or concentrate on working with constant buzzing or ringing in your ears.

"RNID's dedicated new tinnitus website and helpline are doing a great job to support people with this condition and help them get on with their lives. But we need to do more to improve GPs' understanding of this condition - I'll be speaking to my local Primary Care Trust to make sure the estimated 10,000 tinnitus sufferers in Chesterfield are getting the medical support they need."

Brian Lamb, Acting Chief Executive of RNID, said: "Tinnitus can be a debilitating condition for many people, leaving them feeling isolated and stressed - particularly if they can't access the medical advice they need to help manage it.

"Unfortunately there is no cure - however, it can be managed with simple techniques and equipment. We're delighted that Paul Holmes has pledged to help tinnitus sufferers get the best care and advice to manage their condition. And if you have tinnitus, you're not alone - RNID's new website and dedicated tinnitus helpline provide expert information and tips to help you 'tune out tinnitus' and live your life to the full."

Joanne Hindle, Corporate Services Director at Unum, said: "We're delighted to join forces with RNID and Paul Holmes to increase understanding and treatment of tinnitus. We are particularly pleased to help highlight a condition which can have debilitating effects both at work and home, but which can be managed with proper understanding. We would extend the campaign to employers who also need to understand what changes they might make that could support employees with this condition.

"By working with local health services and GPs, together we can deliver the best care for people whose lives are blighted by this condition."

ENDS

Photo caption: Paul Holmes, MP for Chesterfield, experiences how noises inside the ears or head can distract sufferers by wearing 'tinnitus headphones' in workplace and home environments at the RNID and Unum stand at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton.

Photo credit: Danny Fitzpatrick/Mousetrap Media Ltd

Notes to editors:

1. With 68,500 people in the average UK constituency, over 10,000 in each are estimated to suffer from tinnitus. This is calculated as a result of BMRB Omnibus research on tinnitus, conducted February 2007 through face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of approximately 2,000 adults, aged over 15 years of age, in Great Britain (excludes Northern Ireland). While this new research indicates that more than seven million people experience tinnitus, previous estimates by the Medical Research Council had showed that just 4.7 million people (10 per cent of the population) have experienced tinnitus [MRC 1987].

2. Research on tinnitus conducted by doctors.net.uk, February 2007, amongst 506 GPs.

3. RNID is calling on doctors to refer sufferers to RNID's dedicated website www.tuneouttinnutus.co.uk for expert online advice, or refer them to ear, nose and throat specialists if the condition is having a severe impact on their lives.

4. Top tips for tuning out tinnitus include:

· Sound therapy - A wide range of 'relaxer' products, which play soothing sounds to distract people from the noise of tinnitus, are available from RNID's products range. Visit www.rnid.org.uk/shop to find out more.

· Relaxation - Meditation, yoga or just time out for a warm bath and soothing music can all help - many people notice their tinnitus more if they are worried or tired. Relaxation CDs are available from RNID's products range at www.rnid.org.uk/shop.

· Hearing aids - If someone with tinnitus also has a hearing loss, hearing aids can help by stopping the ears straining to hear, and picking up other sounds that may distract from the tinnitus. To take RNID's telephone hearing check, call 0845 600 5555.

· Get advice - visit RNID's dedicated website at www.tuneouttinnitus.org.uk or call the charity's Tinnitus Helpline on (telephone) 0808 808 6666 or (textphone) 0808 808 0007.

2. RNID funds £50,000 of research each year to find a cure for tinnitus. At the moment, there are no drugs available to specifically treat tinnitus alone.

3. RNID is the national charity working to change the world for the UK's 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people. We do this with the help of our members, by campaigning and lobbying, raising awareness of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus, providing services and through social, medical and technical research.

4. For further information about RNID or to become a member, visit www.rnid.org.uk, contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email informationline@rnid.org.uk.

5. For tinnitus enquiries, visit www.tuneouttinnitus.org.uk, contact RNID's Tinnitus Helpline on 0808 808 6666 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email tinnitushelpline@rnid.org.uk.

6. Unum is the UK's leading provider of group income protection insurance, with over 35 years of experience. Our critical illness and life insurance products enable our customers to purchase complementary protection solutions that together make up a comprehensive protection package. Our income protection customers benefit from our expertise in the specialist areas of disability, rehabilitation and return-to-work. We enable individuals to protect their incomes, ensuring their financial security if they are unable to work because of illness or injury. For employers, we offer Group Income Protection policies which provide insurance cover for employees' salaries and safeguard one of their most valuable resources by helping employees return to work following long-term absence.