VOLUME 7, NUMBER 2 JULY 1982

THE AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION

NA llONAL VOLUNTARY ASSOCIA llONS MEETING
Sharing their concerns at the recent voluntary health agency meeting
sponsored by the NINCDS Communicative Disorders Program were: (seated,
L-R): Gloria E. Reich, American Tinnitus Association; Dr. Katherine L.
Sick, acting deputy director, NINCDS; and Patricia Ann Clickener, Self
Help for Hard of Hearing People. (Standing, L-R) : Albert T. Pimentel,
National Association of the Deaf; Howard Rocky Stone, Self Help for Hard
of Hearing People; S. Melvin Carter, Jr . , National Association of the
Deaf; and Don L. Organ, Sertoma Foundation .
NATIONAL VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
MEETING
At this meeting, the voluntary agencies
presented their concerns about the needs for
hearing, language and speech research. Some of
the following material was presented to the
conference by Gloria Reich, Executive Director of
the American Tinnitus Association.
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, affects
more people than all of the other problems that
are listed as concerns by the NINCDS. Most of the
people who have tinnitus also have hearing loss;
therefore, our concern is not only with tinnitus
but with all hearing research.
Hearing problems for many people are still
in the closet and even for those who admit to them
there is no white cane, no wheelchair to gain the
consideration and concern of others . Hearing
problems are truly life threatening. The
disruption and stress imposed on one's life by
tinnitus has driven people to suicide, to drug
addiction, to severe mental illness, and into the
arms of every promising treatment whether helpful
or not. Tinnitus can cause a person to lose
employment, to strain relationships with friends
and family, and to deprive that person of
necessary restful sleep that can enable him to
effectively cope with the problem. With 37
million Americans suffering from tinnitus the need
for research in this area is evident. Yet only
limited funds have been available to support
tinnitus research especially in comparison to the
amount of support available for other neurological
disorders. For example, if one compares the
ratios between the numbers of people who are
afflicted with a specific disorder and the amount
of money expended to solve it the results are
startling. Whereas $32 are spent for each
cerebral palsy patient, $128 for each patient with
multiple sclerosis or other demyelinating
disorders, only $2 is spent for each patient with
hearing and equilibrium problems .
Why the disparity? Part of the problem
may be the distribution of funds for basic versus
applied research in our field. Certainly no
investigator can deny the need for basic research.
It seems imperative, however, since the charge of
the NIH is to solve health problems, that this
research be reduced to oractice if nearing
problems are to be effectively treated. It would
also seem appropriate that consideration be given
to forming an institute devoted exclusively to
hearing problems rather than be included as one
small unit under the broad category of
neurological disorders.
The primary focus of this meeting is to
allow different agencies the opportunity to inform
the NIH about specific concerns of that agency and
how the Federal Government can best help to serve
patient needs. With respect to a relatively new
organization such as the American Tinnitus
Association a list like this could be
interminable. However, two suggestions regarding
ways that the NIH could be helpful to our needs
seem reasonable.
The first regards dissemination of
information relative to investigations involving
tinnitus research. It would be extremely useful
to be made aware of the types of projects that are
being funded in this area in an effort to
coordinate and promote research efforts and to
eliminate duplication of projects.
Secondly, it seems essential that support
be made available to young investigators in this
field to become involved in research efforts
directed towards helping tinnitus patients. This
has long been a neglected area of study and
considerable effort must be made to encourage more
professionals to become involved in tinnitus
research.
Tinnitus is not a trivial problem. Our
association alone has heard from over 50,000
people during the last six years whose lives are
greatly affected by this problem and who need
help.
We need to be constantly reminded that
HEARING IS IMPORTANT. Communication is the
lifeblood of our existance. Quality of life
should be the concern of all people. These
problems are not insoluble - but continuing effort
is needed to resolve them.
Tinnitus appears to be causing more severe
emotional problems with the younger patient,
especially if that patient has otherwise normal
hearing. Indications are that the patient with an
inveterate hearing loss is better able to cope
with tinnitus than the patient who is suddenly and
unaccountably afflicted with tinnitus. An older
person is more likely to show signs of depression
than the younger patient who may be facing
problems related to social adjustment.
Many people in the medical profession tend
to regard tinnitus as trivial. The patient is
simply told to learn to live with it. This makes
patients angry and often drives them to seek less
reputable means of relief.
Many drugs are known to exacerbate or even
cause tinnitus and yet we find many instances
where these ver y drugs are being prescribed to
relieve that patient's tinnitus. There is much
information to be gained from the patient
histories presently being entered into the
tinnitus data registry.
Little is actually known about the extent
to which tinnitus impedes speech discrimination.
Something that many patients complain of .
Why does masking work? In successful
applications tinnitus is diminished, even to the
point of vanishing entirely for short or long
periods of time (residual inhibition). Improper
masking techniques, however, are worse than
n o t n ~ n g . Energy at the wrong frequency can make
the tinnitus worse.
There is a great need to properly train
clinicians in the techniques of measurement,
evaluation, fitting and management of tinnitus.
These clinicians must be able to recognize when
one or another form of treatment is indicated.
The importance of amplification along with masking
needs to be emphasized. Amplification allows the
patient to hear better and communicate better.
Often when amplification is used in conjunction
with masking, lower levels of masking noise are
needed in order to achieve masking.
There needs to be greater recognition and
discussion of the patient's psychological
problems. The attempt should be made with
tinnitus sufferers to help improve the quality of
their lives throug.h counseling. Suggestions can
be made for ways to alleviate stress. Tips on
coping can be shared. The recent inauguration of
the tinnitus self- help program around the o. s. has
been very successful. There are presently more
than 30 self-help coordinators working to
establish groups in their areas.
National Voluntary Associations Meeting continued
There has been a barrage of interest from
the suffering public. Recent PSA announcements on
TV that were jointly sponsored by Better Hearing
Institute and ATA brought more responses to BHI's
hotline than ever before. ATA knows from past
experience that any article or mention of tinnitus
in the media brings a new flood of mail from those
afflicted with the problem. In calendar year 1982
ATA has already answered over 6000 new inquiries .
These are people who are not already on our rather
substantial mailiing list.
It has been said that hearing problems are
not as important as other medical problems because
they aren't life threatening. Well they are life
threatening to those people who are so distraught
that they attempt suicide. Some succeed. They are
to those whose lives are so disrupted that there
is no longer any joy in living. They are to those
who have lost their jobs, are depressed, anxious,
and lonely in what appears to be an uncaring
worl d. If the young mother cannot give love and
support to her children because she is afraid that
the incessant noise in her head will make her
deaf, or craz y, or both. Can you tell that woman
that her problem is trivial? What of the
phys icians who can no longer listen to vital
sounds through the stethoscope? Are we to tell
them that the interfering sound of t he tinnitus is
unimportant? The former music teacher who hears
entire songs or symphonies -- can we reassure this
otherwise stabl e person that this auditory imagery
is not a sign of severe mental pathology?
Certain people are at risk for these sorts
of disorders. Just from observing the histories
of patients who are seeking help for tinnitus we
find a disproportionately large group who have had
noise damage. The veterans, airline pilots,
machine operators, musicians, cannery workers,
foundry workers, sawmill workers, the list is
endl ess . The stay-at-home isn' t safe either.
Power lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners, chainsaws, all
of these and, of course, the stereo system, all
generate enough sound pressure to harm the ear.
For the tinni t us patient who is severely
troubled by the problem, every day can be a
tragedy. An otherwise pr oductive life can be
shattered. Not trivial? Humbug, we say. Stick
it in your ear l
JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST TINNITUS!
JOIN ATA NOW!!!
Your donations are needed to continue A TA 's
services such as the production of this Newsletter.
Please help! I
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
Regular Member $ 1S or more 0
Sustaining Member $ 25 or more 0
Professional Member $100 or more 0
Benefac tor SSOO or more 0
YOUR GIFT IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE
COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS PROGRAM
VOLUNTARIES MEETING
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
American Cleft Palate Association
American Tinnitus Association
Consumers Organization for the Hearing Impaired
International Association of Laryngectomees
National Association of Councils of Stutterers
National Association of the Deaf
Self Help for Hard of Hearing People
Sertoma Foundation
Speech Foundation of America
The Suzanne Pathy Speak-Up Institute, Inc.
Publications have been received from three
of these organizations and we have found them to
be a gold mine of information. Each of these
organizations provides information and services
that are briefly alluded to in their names. If
you write to them and ask for these services we
hope that you'll remember to support them with
your donations as well .
Here are the names and addresses of just a few of the agenaies that be of to the
tinnitus and/or hearing inpaired person. Names of other voluntaPy may be from
The National I nstitutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20205.
COHI/T, Cons umers Organization ror
the Hearing Impai red, Inc.
P.O. Box 8188
Silver Spring, MD 20907
OUT/T, Organization for
Telephone, Inc.
P. 0. Box 175
Owings Mills, MD 21117
Use of the
SHHH/T, Self Help for
People, Inc.
P. 0. Box 34889
Bethesda, MD 20817
Hard of Hearing
POINT OF VIEW
ED. NOTE: Dr. Gardner recently addressed the organizational
meeting of the Bergen County Tinnitus Selfhelp group, and has
kindly consented to allow th1s matenal to be published in the
ATA Newsletter. The reader will recall that this column is printed
from time to t i me to allow the expression of varying points of
view regarding t inni tus.
COPING WITH TINNITUS Richard A. Gardner, M.D.,
Associate Clinical Professor of Child Psychiatry, Columbia
University, College of Physicians and Surgeons.
It is important to remember that tinnitus is
a symptom of a wide variety of disorders. In some
cases medical treatment of the underlying cause
can be effective in reducing or even removing the
symptom entirely. Accordingly, thorough medical
evaluation, preferably including
otorhinolaryngolical (ENT) and neurological
examinations, is extremely important. When such
evaluation and treatment is unsuccessful in
alleviating the symptom then, and only then, may
the following advice prove applicable. It is also
important to appreciate that the advice provided
below has proven useful to me. It may not prove
useful for other individuals for reasons such as
the fact that their tinnitus has different causes
from mine or that their personality structures are
different from mine.
My tinnitus began on November 18, 1978 when I
was 47 years old. It came in association with a
viral gastroenteritis. However, I had a maternal
aunt, who died last year at 92, who had suffered
with tinnitus for about fifty years. In addition,
my maternal grandfather suffered with tinnitus
throughout his adult life. This may suggest a
genetic-constitutional predisposition. Since my
mid-thirties I have noted a bilateral symmetrical
hearing loss at high frequencies (confirmed by
audiograms) . It is unclear whether such hearing
loss was secondary to acoustical trauma or was an
early manifestation of presbycusis (the hearing
loss associated with advancing age). My tinnitus
is most often localized in the center of my head.
On occasion, however, it sounds bilateral, i.e., I
can localize it in each of my ears simultaneously.
It also fluctuates from low distant hums and
whistles to high-pitched, cricket-like sounds.
Clearly, those whose tinnitus is different from
mine may not find the advice below useful. I
suspect, however, that people with varying types
of tinnitus may still find some of my advice and
information of value.
An important element in the discomfort one
suffers with tinnitus is the attentional one. To
the degree that one does not pay attention to it,
to that degree may one find relief. I believe the
following analogy is applicable . If one is
sitting in a room in which music is playing, one
bears the music if one decides to listen to it.
If one is involved in a conversation, the music
may not be heard even though it is still very much
there. Accordingly, if a person leads an active
life, in which one is involved in many absorbing
activities, the tinnitus will not be heard as
much. I myself do not usually hear my tinnitus
when actively involved with the treatment of my
patients, writing books, or even when absorbed in
a variety of meaningful social and recreational
activities. Some patients may profit from a
hypnotherapeutic approach in which the therapist
helps the patient "not pay attention" to the
tinnitus. This is similar to hypnotherapeutic
suggestions that help patients direct their
attention away from pain.
A second important element in coping with
tinnitus is the attitudinal. Shakespeare's Hamlet
said it well: "There's nothing either good or bad,
but thinking makes it so." If one views the
tinnitus as a horrendous curse, then it is more
likely to produce depression. If one can merely
view it as a noise, that is not pain, then it may
be less of an irritant. Young lovers may consider
tbe crickets on a summer night to sound almost
like music. The view that one ' s tinnitus is "only
a noise" can help make it less stressful. There
are rare individuals who can actually come to view
their tinnitus as a pleasant sound. These people
are clearly fortunate. Although I am certainly
not in this category, when one thinks about them
it can help one view the tinnitus more
realistically. There are some patients who
probably can be helped by a bypnotherapeutic
approach in which they are helped to associate the
tinnitus sound with pleasant auditory experiences
such as babbling brooks, waterfalls, ocean scenes,
etc . (Perhaps one can only judge the effectiveness
of such a procedure by actually trying it. Recent
ATA Newsletter articles have emphasized the
importance of ~ prejudging therapeutic
procedures.)
Another reassuring thought that can sometimes
be helpful is the awareness that with ..u..m.e., most
tinnitus patients feel less distress. In some
patients this is the result of an actual
dimunition in the intensity of the tinnitus as
time passes. In others, there has been no change
in the intensity, but the person gets used to it
and is thereby less distressed. The old advice
"learn to live with it" has some validity
especially if the professional provides help with
this learning process.
Some people find tinnitus maskers helpful.
My own experience has been that the masker can
predictably work to counteract all sounds in my
bead. However, the price I pay for this "relief"
is a constant sound in one of my ears. No matter
which ear I put the masker in, I have the
sensation that it has "pulled" the noise out of my
head into the ear to which the masker is a t t a c ~ e d .
My tinnitus, however, normally fluctuates; whereas
the masker does not. Accordingly, to leave the
masker on for long periods of time would provide
me with a noise that would be louder than the one
that I might experience after the tinnitus has
naturally reduced itself to lower levels. In
addition, the masker draws attention to a noise,
which is just the opposite of what one wants to
do. Accordingly, I, personally, stopped using my
maskers after about a year. However, I recognize
that this is my own individual experience and that
there are others who probably find them quite
useful.
It is important for tinnitus sufferers to
avoid situations which may intensify their
tinnitus by producing further hearing loss. (The
overwhelming majority of tinnitus sufferers have a
hearing loss that has predisposed them to the
development of the tinnitus.) The worst thing is
to place oneself in a position where one is
exposed to loud sounds over an extended period .
We are living in a time where we are ever exposed
to various kinds of acoustical trauma. Probably
the greatest recreational offenders are those who
play amplified music. Unfortunately, such
amplification is becoming ever more prevalent--to
the point where it is hard to avoid it. Rock
concerts are well known to be acoustically
traumatic. Legitimate theaters are also now
amplifying their music considerably. Most
nightclubs and cafes similarly are exposing their
patrons to acoustical trauma.
Coping with Tinnitus continued
Receptions at
weddings and Bar Mitzvahs are typically exposing
the guests to traumatic levels of music. Flying
in jet planes is probably not traumatic, however,
flying propeller flights (especially over long
distances) probably is. Many of the subway lines
in large cities expose the riders to an
acoustically traumatic environment. Although it
is difficult to avoid all these sources of noise
trauma, I believe that the tinnitus sufferer must
avoid them--even at the expense of offending
others. Our true friends will be sympathetic to
our declining an invitation that entails such
trauma. Although many of us cannot make our
tinnitus better, we can at least do something to
avoid making it worse.
Another avoidable way in which tinnitus can
be made worse is taking certain medications. It
is common practice for physicians to prescribe
anti-depressant medication for tinnitus sufferers.
I t i s not generally well known that the most
commonly used anti-depressants can, on occasion,
Produce tinnitus, or exacerbate an already
existing tinnitus. The Physicians' Desk Reference
mentions tinnitus as an adverse reaction to
imipramine (Tofranil), desipramine (Norpramin),
and amitriptyline (Elavil). The July, 1980 issue
of The American Journal of Psychiatry (pp.854-855)
contained an article describing the tinnitus side
effects in four patients on imipramine therapy.
These patients did not previously suffer with
tinnitus, experienced tinnitus when placed on
i mipramine, and enjoyed an alleviation of the
tinnitus when the dose of anti-depressant was
reduced. There is no question that there are many
tinnitus patients who are receiving increasingly
higher doses of anti-depressant medication. For
many, they are being made worse, not better, by
the anti-depressants.
Although the causes of tinnitus (and there
are many) are only poorly understood at this
point , there is good reason to believe that
research will learn much more about the causes and
treatment of tinnitus. Whether such breakthroughs
will occur in our lifetime cannot be known with
certainty. Unfortunately, the amount of money
being spent on tinnitus research is only an
infintesimal fraction of what should be allocated
at this time. Any influence one has in getting
government funding for such research should be
utilized. Letters to congressmen, senators, and
people whose influence would count in this area
could prove useful. Financial contributions to
such research is vital. At this point the
American Tinnitus Association appears to me to be
the organization that is most actively involved in
such research and donations to that group would,
in my opinion, be the best and most judicious
place to send one's contributions.
We tinnitus patients must resign ourselves to
the fact that we may never enjoy the pleasures of
complete silence, walking through the woods alone,
quietly enjoying a beautiful scene, or just
sitting in silence and relaxing. This is indeed a
deprivation. However, it is a loss of a pleasure;
it is not a physical pain. Because of this, I
find it easier to vacation at a beach, where I can
sit on the sand and allow the background waves to
compete with and "mask" my tinnitus. Although I
still, at times, will seek solitude by walking in
the woods, I find it much harder to enjoy this
experience.
In closing, my final conclusions on how to
best cope with tinnitus are that the traditional
advice seems to be the best: "try to ignore it"
and "learn to live with it." If we lead active
lives, involving ourselves in those things that
provide us with interest and enjoyment, we are
less likely to be bothered by our tinnitus (or
other irritants, for that matter). If we are
weighed down by other problems, it is likely to
cause us to feel worse about our tinnitus. I would
not like the reader to conclude with the feeling
that I have completely "conquered" my tinnitus and
that it still is no longer a source of distress.
I too have my "ups and downs" and I too get
depressed over it from time to time. However, I
do believe that the above considerations have been
helpful to me and I hope they will be of help to
others as well.
TINNITUS
THERE'S THE TINTINNABULATION
OF A BELL THAT ISN'T THERE;
THE SHRIEKING OF A WHISTI.E
THAT'S WITH US EVERYWHERE;
THE RUSHING OF A RISING WIND;
IT'S MORE THAN WE CAN BEAR!
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR OTHERS
TO APPRECIATE OUR PLIGHT:
THIS PLAGUE OF NOISY EARS
THAT'S WITH US DAY AND NIGHT.
by Hazel Robinson Stone, Revised July 2, 1982
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
The American Tinnitus Association is
a non-profit organization dedicated to the
support of research about tinnitus and other
hearing disorders. ATA provides information
about tinnitus to those who have the probl em
as well as to those who are studying it.
Support for our work comes entirely from your
donations, there is no government or institutional
support.
Anyone can be a member of ATA by making a
donation. Such a donation will automatically put
you on the list to receive the ATA NEWSLETTER. We
have recently had to trim our Newsletter list in order
to keep our costs within bounds. Anyone who had
never made a contribution, or had not contacted us
within the last four years, was dropped. If you
want to keep receiving the Newsl etter you must let
us know, either by making an annual donation, or by
telling us that you are unable to donate but wish
to receive the information anyway.
One last word of explanation that might be
helpful. Our mailing list is organized by Zipcode
into about 20 different files. If you send us a
change of address, it must contain your old address
as well as the new o n e ~ o r d e r for us to find it.
ATA has answered over 6000 new inquiries thi s
year between January 1, and June 15. We 're doi ng
our best to keep up with t he mail and we appreciat e
your patience.
INVASION OF THE NOISEHEADS
Trudy Drucker
At the last wedding reception I went to, the
joyful union was celebrated with four hours of
continuous screeching rock and disco music. I
came home with bleeding ears and my tinnitus,
which had previously responded to masking, became
and remained intractible. Yes, I wore ear
protection, but, as I found out later, even my
excellent plugs could not screen out enough of
what was an assault of about 115 decibels.
This kind of experience is no longer unusual.
Technology, ignorance, and selfishness have
spawned a generation of noiseheads who are quite
wllling and able to burn out your ears along vi th
their own.
Our parks are savaged by somebody's
racket-making gadget behind every bush; at public
pools one must stay underwater to avoid the circle
of competing radios; musical theatre has become an
assault instead of an entertainment; nearly every
shop pounds its customers ears with loud taped or
broadcast music. In my pleasant town, the sound
of portable noise machines is sometimes louder
than that of auto traffic. There isn't a good
local restaurant where I can get a weekend dinner
without conversation-stopping "entertainment."
The physical-fitness club programs its exercises
to rock music, so we can lose our hearing along
with our cellulite. A local college celebrates
term-end with a rock-concert party so loud that
complaints come from a half-mile away. Churches
and synagogues advertise pop-music "worship
services. At some school functions with
mandatory attendance, the music is loud enough to
be painful and dangerous. Even kindergartens and
nursery schools dose their innocent charges with
"disco parties that can be beard for blocks.
I know some people who reg-.llarly flee their
own home to escape their son's stereo. If you
don't have some teen-aged rockhounds at home, odds
are that your neighbor does, and they will drive
you mad if you open your windows or sit out on
your lawn. Ask these darlings to turn down the
noise, and you will be informed that "if it's too
loud, you're too old pops as yet another ten
agonizing decibels are wrenched from the
ubiquitous machines. Hy nephew and niece,
cultivated professional people in their twenties,
can't make it through a social evening or a dinner
party without demanding "background music."
Denied it, they soon exhibit the restless, haunted
look of the deprived addict. The young folks
don't function without the sense-saturation of
very loud music. They can't eat without noise,
read without noise, work without noise, study
without noise, or (if I read the subtle ads
correctly) make love without noise.
Of course, the noiseheads pay dearly for
ANDY CAPP
their miserable addiction. The violence at rock
concerts, and the tragic, suicidal, drug-ridden
lives of so many rock performers, is testimony to
the unacknowledged pain of extreme noise. (Rats
exposed to the sonic equivalent of two hours at a
rock concert have become cannibalistic and
eventually died of heart failure.) A study among
a large unselected group of college students
indicated significant hearing loss in about fifty
percent. Dr. Jack A. Vernon of the Kresge Hearing
Research Laboratory finds "sixty-five- year-old
ears in twenty-five-year-old people." Tinnitus,
once chiefly an affliction among older people
exposed for many years to industrial noise, is now
a hidden epidemic among young people. Nobody who
has this condition needs to be told it can mean a
lifetime of hopeless torment.
The newest implement for torture and danger
is the ear-plug portable sound system. A
university audiologist estimates that at the usual
volume at which these instruments are played,
about 100 to 120 decibels are delivered directly
into the ear -- enough to cause permanent hearing
loss after fifteen minutes. A young man in my
community wore one of these devices while crossing
a railroad track, and was killed by the train be
couldn't hear coming. There will be other deaths,
and unfortunately not all among users. Along with
the jogger who can't hear an auto born, there is
the motorist who can't hear an ambulance siren and
the pool lifeguard who can't hear your child's cry
for help.
You don't have to take this. Obviously,
avoid, when you can, any occasion of painful and
dangerous sound. A physician I know won't attend
any wedding or bar--mitzvah reception -- including
those of his own children -- if there will be
amplified music. Find out what your child is
forced to listen to in school. Hound your town
officials into passing and enforcing regulations
against the public use of noise machines,
including ear-plug sound in circumstances that
would pose a hazard to others. Walle out of shops
and restaurants that batter your ears, but only
after you tell the manager why you are leaving.
If a public institution such as a school or
recreation area makes too much noise, collect some
neighbors and go the the board of governors. A
threat to dry up tax support can work wonders.
Even minor skirm.isbes can be won here and there;
for example, your cabdriver and your hairdresser
can play their radios or collect their tips, but
not both.
You have a right to the sound of silence.
Fight for it.
Ms . D-rucker is a patient of" the Kresge Hearing
Research LaboratorJ . She has a Ph . D. in English
and is a Fellow of the American Medical Writers
Association.
With thanks to the Field Newspaper Syru:licat.
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MEDICAL INFORMATION CARD - In an emergency, the
"National Safety Council Medical Information Card
provides paramedics, physicians and hospital medical
teams with vital medical data about the victim. Above
are the front and back of the card. The rescuer need
only bend the card to read the victim's medical
history contained on microfilm through the optical
lens , saving precious time when medical treatment
is needed under emergency conditions.
TRIBUTES
The ATA Tribute Fund is designated 100% for tinnitus
research. Thank you aLL those peopLe Listed beLow
for sharing your memorable occasions in this heLpfuL
way. Contributions to the tribute fund are tax
deductible and wiLL be promptly acknowLedged with an
appropriate card for the occasion.
IN MEMORY OF
William Hale, Jr.
Mary (Nancy) Sabbey
Mary May
Mrs. Peter Oliver
Horgan Trott
Roy Jeremiah
Samuel Slosberg
Gary Kowaleski
John Kowalewski
Mrs. Pete Spaan
Etta Hayman
Jaleely Tahan
Mrs. Eve Kirsch
W. D. Stubblefield
Mrs. Josephine Bolanda
Hiss Jeanette Bolanda
Hr. Leo Impellizzeri
Mrs. Diane Impellizzeri
Etta Hayman
Joseph Luczynski
Catherine Casco
BIRTHDAY
Katherine Krawec
Bebe Novicb
Jay Novich
Jim Traver
Ro Traver
Mrs. Leo Kahn
Bill Hart
Jean Novich
Mary Cassel
Gilbert Cassel
Leslee Cassel
ANNIVERSARY
Hr/Hrs Reuben Askanase
IN HONOR OF
Mr.& Mrs. John H. Gary
Hr.& Mrs. Lawrence Maher
Dr .& Mrs. P. Silverstein
Henry & Doris Adams
Erin Abbott
R. w. Hocks
Rose & Alfred H. Polen
Theodore Kowaleski
Theodore Kowaleski
Jake DeYoung
Burton Zitkin
Trudy Drucker & Joe Alam
Hr.& Mrs. Harold Linden
Mr.& Mrs. Charles T, True
S. F. Impellizzeri
S. F. Impellizzeri
S. F. Impellizzeri
S. F. Impellizzeri
Burton Zitkin
Theodore Kowaleski
Hr. Paul Casco
Michael & Anne Szwec
J. Alam & T. Drucker
J. Alam & T. Drucker
J. Alam & T. Drucker
J. Alam & T. Drucker
Mr.& Mrs. John Hayer
J. Alam & T. Drucker
J. Alam & T. Drucker
J. Alam & T. Drucker
J. Alam & T. Drucker
J. Alam & T. Drucker
Mrs. Gerald S. Gordon
Self-Help Group Kick-Off Joseph G. Alam
Speedy Recovery,L.Levine Hr.& Mrs. Ray Foster
Mother's Day Sylvester Alam, P.C.
Sidney Tow Eliot R. Tow
Hr. Arnold Weiner Betty Friedman
Tinnitus Sufferers Mrs. Walter E. HeMann
Father's Day Sylvester Alam
Easter Greetings to Aunt
Trudy & Uncle Joe
American Tinnitus Assoc.
Hr.& Mrs. Wm. s. Hart
Bergen Cty.Self-Help
Group
Dr. Trudy Drucker -upon
completion of scholarly
paper"Sexuality as destiny:
the shadow lives of O'Neill's
women"
Joseph G. Alam
SELF-HELP GROUP INFORMATION
SELF-HELP GROUPS " ROARING SUCCESS"!
Since the last Newsletter when we gave you
the names of people who were willing to start
self-help groups for tinnitus several of these
groups have bad their first meetings and some have
bad second and third meetings. These groups are
active in the states of New York, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kansas, California,
Ohio, South Carolina and the province of Ontario.
Other groups are in the process of forming.
Please contact this office if you want to join a
group. Or, if there isn't a group active in your
area, write to us and we'll help you get one
started.
Here are some of the things that have been
reported from the groups. Patients shared their
helpful hints for tinnitus relief. These ranged
from the control of diet, to exercise, stress
reduction techniques and supportive counseling.
Surprisingly few people know about masking and
often those who do have had inadequate evaluation
and fitting and therefore are likely to have found
this treatment wa nting. Those who have had
success with masking, and we're sorry to say that
these patients come from relatively few
clinicians, are enthusiastic and anxious to share
their success stories with others.
Some suggestions that were heard included
exchanging telephone numbers among group members
so that if someone is having a particularly bad
day with their tinnitus they can call a friendly,
sympathetic person for a talk. Already many
people have found a sympathetic ear through this
ldnd of network.
PUblished by the
The self-help group is a good place to get
together with people who can share experiences
about tinnitus. It's often surprising how much
better things look when you find that you're not
alone with a problem.
It was suggested that the arrangement of
seating at meetings should be comfortable and
allow each person's face to be clearly seen by
everyone else when s/he is speaking. Often a
person who bas tinnitus has difficulty in hearing
conversation clearly in a group situation.
Guest speakers at meetings have been well
received and have provided useful information for
patients about the kinds of treatments available,
and about their efficacy. Host of all,
however, the real bonus from these meetings is
getting people together who share the common
affliction of tinnitus and allowing them to talk
about their experiences.
TINNITUS ON TAPE
A cassette tape containing about ten minutes
of tinnitus sounds and coTTmenta:ry by Dr. Jack
Vernon is avaitabZe fol' use by the seZf-heZp
gl'oups . If yoUr> gl'oup would Zike one of these
tapes an Ol'diJl' may be placed with the ATA office.
The cost is $5. 50 postpaid.
AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
A private non-profit corporation
under the Zaws of Oregon
The American Tinnitus Association
Post Office Box 5
Non-Profit Organ.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 1792
Portland, Oregon
Medical Advisory
Board
Jack o . a ...... " o.
O n ~ . Illinoi s
llav1d o. o.wee..,, 11. 0.
PorUand, O<egon
Join R. !lnllett, II. D.
Meqllwl, 'l'enne!ISH
Howard P. llouse, M. D.
Los Angelu, c.l1forn11
lloben H. Jolwleon, Ph. D.
Portland, O<egon
1\erle a:..avrence, Ph. D.
1oM Atbor, IUc:higan
Jerry Northern, Ph. 0.
Denver, COlorado
George P. ReEd, H. 0.
Syracuse, New York
llobert E. Sandll.n, Ph.D.
SOn Oieqo, California
Abrahalll Srol.Jnan, H. D.
New York, New York
!Uicold G. Tabb, 11. D.
- Orleans, I..OuiSlan.>
eoard o( puectors
Rllbert HOcks, OlatllMTI
Portland, Oregon
Clone . Retch, txec.Olt.
PorUand, Oregon
Olarles truce, M. D.
Oownc!y, caltfocnta
'lhoo>a.a W1Silbaum, C. P . II.
Portland, O<egon
ti<r>OrACV 01 Cf:ctpCS
Del a-. - of Rep. Ret .
Downey, Califomu
Honorable M.Uk Katheld
united States ~ t e
t,gol Qltmr;el
Henry c. Breithaupt
Stoel,Rives,Boley,Frser & Wyse
Portland. Oregon 97207
(503) 2489985
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED