You are on page 1of 23

March 1991 Volume 16, Number 1

Tinnitus Today
THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
"To carry on and support research and educational activities relating
to the treatment of tinnitus and other defects or diseases of the ear."
In this issue:
Boom & Doom
Book Review
There is Hope
Media Watch
Tony Randall
Feel the ocean's spray ... go barefoot
by a swift mountain stream ... or take
a walk in the summer rain.
If You Suffer From Tinnitus,
You Need To Hear This.
machines accommodate 110 volts and
consume less power than a small night
light.
Call NOW TOLL FREE
1-800-438-2244
If you are not on the Ambient Shilpes
mailing li.st . .. you should be . CaU
today to receive our unique catalog.
You can substitute the frustrating,
ringing sounds caused by tinnitus with
the soothing, natural sounds of the
Marsona 1200A or the TSC-300. The
frequency and intensity of the
simulated sounds of rain, surf, and
waterfalls match the tones heard by
many tinnitus sufferers. These
masking devices are proven effective
in assisting many patients in adapting
to their tinnitus. We cannot predict
whether or not the Marsona is
Other family members can enjoy
the Marsona along with you for
masking everyday noises around your
house and neighborhood by
CONNECTING THE MARSONA
1200A TO YOUR STEREO. Use
These satisfied customers offered their
comments on the Marsona 1200 sound
your stereo headphones or the
independent unit for your tinnitus
masking.
conditioner:
Control your audible ambience with
Marsona 1200A or TSC-300 from
Ambient Shapes, Inc. Don't wait!
ORDER TOLL FREE


appropriate for you, but the probability r ~ . - . - - ......
of successful masking and the hope of I MaJor cred1t card holders please call toll I a
v t a1 dual nh b . free. Order TI1200A for the Marson a
e en u rest
1 1
lUOn IS well I 1200A or send a check for $129.00 (Free I
worth TAKING ADVANTAGE OF I Shipping & Handling). Order TI300 for I
OUR 30 DAY MONEY BACK I the TSC-300 or send a check for $89.00. I
GUARANTEE. Get both for $199.00 and save $19.00. NC
The new TSC-300 weighs just I residents ad 5% sales tax. Both machines I a
over 16 ounces, making it a great I have a I year warranty and our 30 Day 1
"take-along" for your vacations and I Money Back Guarantee. I
business travel. A travel case is even I ORDER TOLL FREE NOW I
included to make the wide range of 1
environmental sounds within the 1
RAIN and WATERFALL settings
available wherever you go. The bigger I
Marsona 1200A weighs Jess than three I
pounds and offers four channels of I
environmental sounds - SURF I, SURF I Ambient Shapes, Inc.
II, RAIN, and WATERFALL. Both 1 P 0 Box 5o69 Hickory, NC 286o3
"Purchased to mask noise of
tinnitus. It really helps!"
D.S., San Anselmo, CA
"Excellent for masking tinnitus
noises."
J.l., Lynn, MA
"My husband has tinnitus. Our
doctor recommended this and it
has helped him tremendously."
P.A., Van Wert, OH
"Fantastic- Best sleep in years-
got rid of headaches from lack of
sleep."
M.B., N. Hollywood, CA

tnnt
Editorial and advertising offices:
American Tinnitus Association, P.O. Box 5
Portland, OR 97207 (503) 248-9985
Executive Director & Editor:
Gloria E. Reich, Ph.D.
National Chairman:
Robert M. Johnson, Ph.D.
Editoria l Advisor:
Trudy Drucker, Ph.D.
Advertising sales: A TA-AD, P. 0. Box 5.
Portland, OR 97207 (800-634-8978)
Tinnitus Today is published quarterly in
March. June, September and December. It
is mailed to members of American Tinnitus
Association and a selected list of tinnitus
sufferers and professionals who treattinninas.
Circulation is rotated to 175,000 annually.
The Publisher reserves the right to reject or
edit any manuscript received for publ ication
and to reject any advert ising deemed un-
suitable for Tinnitus Today. Acceptance of
advertising by Tinnitus Today does not con-
stitute endorsement of the advertiser. its
products or services. nor does Tinnitus
Today make any claims or guarantees as to
the accuracy or validity of the advert iser's
offer. The opinions expressed by con-
tributors to Tinnitus Today are not necessari-
ly those of the Publ isher, editors, staff, or
advertisers.American Tinnitus Association
is a non-profit human health and welfare
agency under 26 USC 501 (c)(3}
Copyright 1990 by American Tinnitus As-
sociation. No pan of this publication may
be reproduced. stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any lorm, or by any
means, withom the prior written permission
of the Publisher. lSSN: 0897-6368
Scientific Advisor y Board
Alfred Weiss, MD. Boston, MA
Abraham Shulman, MD, Brooklyn. NY
George F. Reed, MD, Syracuse. NY
John R. Emmett. MD. Memphis, TN
Gale W. Miller, MD. Cincinnati, OH
Jack D. Clemis, MD. Chicago. lL
W. F. S. Hopmeier, St. Louis, MO
Harold G. Tabb, MD. New Orleans, LA
J. Gail Neely, MD. Oklahoma City, OK
Jerry Northem. PhD. Denver, CO
John W. House, MD, Los Angeles, CA
Robert E. Sandlin, PhD, San Diego, CA
Chris B. Foster, MD. San Diego, CA
Richard L. Goode, MD, Stanford, CA
Mansfield Smith. MD, San Jose. CA
Robert M. Johnson, PhD, Portland. OR
Honorary Board
Sena10r Mark 0. Hatfield
Rep. Ret. Del Clawson
Tony Randall
The Journal of the American Tinnitus Association
Volume 16 Number 1 March 1991
Contents
4
7
10
12
14
18
18
19
20
Boom and Doom
by William Ira Bennett, M.D.
Book Review, Tinnitus:Diagnosis!freatment
by Trudy Drucker, Ph.D.
There is Hope
by Charles J. Adams, Jr.
MEDIA WATCH: Tinnitus in the News
by Cliff Collins
Questions & Answers
by Jack Vernon
Tony Randall
A Mote in My Ear
by Sal Parlato, Jr.
Financial Summary
for Fiscal Year 1990
Please Write!
Regular Features
19 Announcements
9 Classified
21-22 Tributes, Sponsor Members, Professional Associates
23 Books Available, Annual Donations
Cover painring. "Tom & Barbara' s Flowers," Oil on paper 30" x 22", by Shir-
ley Gittelson. Inquiries about Gitrelson' s work may be made to her directly-
(503 )292-2049.
3
4
Boom and Doom
William Ira Bennett, M.D. Excerpted from the
December. /990 issue of the Harvard Health Letter,
1990. President and Fellows of Harvard College.
Between the ages of 15 and 23, some
youngsters growing up in Staffordshire,
England, develop subtle but detectable im-
pairment of their hearing. The cause? About
55 rock concerts, 1,000 hours spent at dis-
cotheques, and untold amounts of time
plugged into the headphones of t?eir per-
sonal stereos. This is the conclusiOn reached
by P. D. B. West and E. F. Evans, re-
searchers at the University of Keele, who
tested a group of students from their univer-
sity and two groups of pupils from a nearby
high school -those reporting high ex-
posure to amplified pop music and those .
who had little or no such exposure. (The m-
vestigators could not find enough university
students with low exposure ro form a con-
trol group of older subjects!)
No loss of overall hearing could be
detected in the exposed groups by routine
diagnostic methods, but sophisticated
laboratory techniques revealed two abnor-
malities: diminished sensitivity to sound in
a particular narrow range of frequencies and
reduced ability to discriminate between two
different pitches. The latter ability is distinct
from the capacity to detect a pure tone at
low levels. The Keele researchers found that
youngsters exposed to a lot of loud music
were distinctly less able to differentiate be-
tween a oiven tone and its close neighbors.
Reduced pitch discrimination was especially
likely if the subjects had ever experienced
temporary hearing impairment of several
minutes of ringing in their ears after ex-
posure to amplified music.
Din and Tonic
form of noise currently drawing a lot of
popular attention. I'm always being asked
about rock concerts and the Walkman," says
Dr. Charles Liverman, an associate profes-
sor of physiology at Harvard Medical
School and a researcher at the Mas-
sachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI).
But epidemiologically, the most common
recreational cause of serious hearing loss is
gunshot noise such as rifle fire."
ly, the affected ear is most often on the stde
opposite the shoulder the rifle rests The
ear on the same side is somewhat shtelded
by the butt of the gun. . .
Explosive sounds can cause tmmedtate
and irreversible damage. In Germany a
prankster threw a firecracker into a
Volkswagen full of students. The door was
closed before the cracker exploded, and
everyone in the car suffered immediate hear-
ing loss. Several of the occupants had
broken eardrums from the pressure of the
sound.
Having the membrane of your eardrum
break can be somewhat protective against
sudden, intense sounds," according to Dr.
Nelson Kiang, a professor of physiology at
Harvard Medical School and also a re-
searcher at MEEI and the Massachusetts In-
stitute of Technology (MIT). The
consequent reduction of sound transmission
in that ear shields the more vulnerable
central parts of the inner ear.
Explosive noises are not the only ones
with the potential to cause hearing loss.
Many work environments entail
exposure to loud noise. Among the maJOr
sources are power looms, welding equip-
ment, power saws, and jack hammers. Large
The Keele study is interesting partly be-
machines or vehicles, such as those used on
construction sites or in military operations,
also generate a lot of noise. Home and yard
cause of the subtlety of its methods and part-
ly because it leaps into the generation gap
by taking on amplified rock music, one
equipment, including power tools, vacuum
Boom & Doom (continued)
cleaners, power mowers, wood chippers,
chain saws, snow blowers, and some
kitchen appliances, can be exceedingly
noisy, as can recreational machinery -
power boats and snowmobiles. Such sus-
tained sounds tend to be more damaging
than the intermittent ones in rock music.
To guard against sustained noise, the
ear has less radical means than breaking
some of its parts. For example, two small
muscles play a protective role. One is at-
tached to the malleus, or hammer," the tiny
bone attached to the drum membrane, and
the other to the stapes, or stirrup" bone, of
the middle ear. When these muscles tense,
they reduce the ability of the bones to
vibrate, and thus to transmit sound, especial-
ly when it is loud, prolonged, and of low-fre-
quency. We can speculate that these
muscles are
capable of getting cochlea
stronger, like a
weight lifter's
biceps, with
repeated usage -
for example, after
persistent ex-
posure to high
noise levels like
those present in
some factories,"
says Dr. Kiang.
There may also
be other
Hair cell
mechanisms, for example biochemical chan-
ges, that toughen the ear.
But, Dr. Kiang adds, it's not really pos-
sible yet to predict long-term hearing loss
from short-term responses to loud sounds.
People who lose hearing temporarily may
not suffer much long-term damage, whereas
those who don't seem badly affected at the
time may go on to have permanent damage
with continued exposures." The actual
amount of damage varies enormously from
person to person, perhaps because of dif-
ferent combinations of genetic makeup and
other factors such as diet, lifestyle, or dis-
ease.
Not much is known about the natural
history of hearing loss. In some animal
species hearing seems to deteriorate auto-
matically with aging, whereas in others it is
very well preserved. No one knows for sure
which group humans resemble. Neverthe-
less, circumstantial evidence suggests that a
significant amount of hearing loss may be
the result of a lifetime of exposme to noise
or toxic chemicals rather than an inevitable
byproduct of growing older.
As Dr. Kiang points out: It's definitely
the case that a lot of very old humans have
Hair cells (shown in blue) are
suspended from a membrane in the spiral
shaped cochlea of the inner ear. Sound
waves make the membrane vibrate. The
hair cells can detect the motion because
it causes the stereocilia to bend. These
cells then stimulate the nerve cells at-
tached to them. The membrane is most
sensitive to high frequencies at its near
end. and to low frequencies at the t1p of
the spiral. The gray areas represent the
fluid-filled spaces in the inner ear.
excellent hearing. The classic study is of the
Mabaan tribe in the Sudan. These people
prize sensitive hearing, and it has been said
that their custom is never to raise their
voices." Except during occasional festivities
(where dancing and soft singing are accom-
panied by a five-stringed lyre rather than by
drums), the loudest noises in their environ-
ment are from domestic animals such as
sheep and roosters. When hearing tests were
5
6
Boom & Doom (continued)
performed on the Mabaans, some 80-year-
olds had hearing like 20-year-olds in
developed countries."
Whether the Mabaans' hearing will sur-
vive the transition to more modem, urban
environments remains to be seen. If it does
not, a genetic factor will be ruled out, but
noise itself will not necessarily be the cru-
cial environmental factor, because so many
other aspects of life- for example, diet, ex-
posure to chemicals, and perhaps exposure
to infectious agents- will also have
changed.
Even in modem societies, some people
suffer more hearing loss than others. Men,
who have traditionally worked in noisy en-
vironments, lose more with age, on average,
than do women. Nevertheless, some occupa-
tions historically held by women have en-
tailed a surprising amount of noisy
equipment: typewriters, impact printers, and
household appliances such as vacuum
cleaners and blenders. With greater equality
in gender roles, women and men may well
become more alike in the amount of hearing
they lose with age.
Hair Cell Damage
How does sound do its damage? The
answer is far from complete, but the general
picture is becoming clearer- and perhaps
more complex.
To begin with, not all sounds are equal
in their damaging effects. The mechanics of
the ear operate to filter out very low frequen-
cy sounds, so loud, low, rumbling noises ap-
pear to do less damage than piercing
screeches.
It is unknown whether sound damage
can be predicted from the total amount of
sound energy entering the inner ear, or
whether other, more strictly biological fac-
tors are involved. Dr. John Rosowski, a col-
league of Drs. Kiang and Liberman at
Harvard, MIT, and MEEI, has been inves-
tigating this problem. At relatively low
levels of intensity," he says, damage ap-
pears to be proportional to the sound
power"- that is, the amount of energy
entering the ear during a particular period of
time. At these levels, if some sound is bad, a
little more is just slightly worse. But increas-
ing evidence indicates that beyond some
critical level of sound pressure, the ear be-
comes much more susceptible to trauma.
With only a small increase in pressure
above this point, the damage increases great-
ly. It's no longer explained by the same
proportionality observed at lower levels."
Hair loss
Extremely intense sounds can rip the
delicate sensory cells completely off the
basilar membrane on which they normally
sit, kill the cells, or merely injure them per-
manently. Damage to these sensory cells, or
hair cells," accounts for most nerve deaf-
ness" in later life. The top of each cell looks
a little like a toothbrush with several rows
of bristles (stereocilia) of differing lengths.
The tips of the long bristles are linked to
those of the shorter ones by fine filaments.
The stereocilia act as levers, bending
together as sound moves the membranes in
the fluid-filled inner ear. Which sensory
cells are stimulated depends on the frequen-
cy and level of the entering sound.
As a linked pair of stereocilia bends,
the linking filament is subjected to a brief
tug-of-war. It's a pretty good bet," Dr.
Liberman says, that this tugging action
opens channels at the tip of the taller bristle
of the pair. Ions move through these opened
channels; the hair cell responds by releasing
signal molecules that stimulate the connect-
ing nerve to send jmpulses toward the brain.
If the bristles are damaged, the cell loses its
(continued on page 8)
Book Review
by Trudy Drucker. Ph.D. Drucker is Facilitator of
the Bergen County (New Jersey) Tinnitus Self-Help
Group. and a Fellow of the American Medical
Writers Association.
Abraham Shulman, ed. Tinnitus: Diag-
nosisffreatment, Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger, 1991.
The burgeoning interest in tinnitus that
occurred during the last decade produced,
among other benefits, a spate of good books
for patients and for professionals. The latter
have the Ciba Foundation Symposium
( 1981 ), the collection of articles published
by the National Research Council (1982),
and the published proceedings of the First
(1979), Second (1983), and Third (1987) In-
ternational Tinnitus Seminars. Now there is
a massive, comprehensive compendium of
information that surely will be the medical
text of choice for many years to come.
The editor and chief author, Dr.
Abraham Shulman of New York, is among
the handful of medical specialists who have
put the focus of their distinguished careers
on the study and management of tinnitus.
Fourteen specialists contributed chapters,
among them Dr. Jack Vernon of Oregon,
the late Dr. Juergen Tonndorf of New York,
Dr. Harald Feldmann of Germany, and Dr.
Jean-Marie A ran of France. All of the co-
authors will be well known to those who at-
tend the conferences and international
seminars concerned with tinnitus. Although
some of the information will be useful and
accessible to patients, the book seems chief-
ly designed for students and specializing
professionals who need more than a cursory
knowledge of tinnitus. They will find the
high cost ($85.00) is a good investment.
Copies should be available in medical
'
hospital, and university libraries.
The clear aim of this book is to inves-
tigate various avenues of diagnosis that in
time will be sufficiently reliable to provide
a rational basis of treatment. An armature of
basic scientific knowledge is needed to pro-
vide support for clinical information and
decision-making, and Shulman rightly notes
in the preface that rational basic research is
really in its early stages. The first of the
book's five sections, that are devoted to a
historical review of tinnitus research and
treatment, makes that fact very clear. The
section was written with great scholarship
by Feldmann, assisted by two medical his-
torians.
Section II contains a review of the
anatomy and physiology of the auditory ap-
paratus; in Section III there is discussion of
the techniques and problems of diagnosis.
with particular reference to possible deter-
mination of the site of tinnitus-producing
lesions. Various types of treatment and prog-
nostications about the results appear in Sec-
tion IV. A look into the future of tinnitus
research and management is provided in
Section V.
In a review of a book as dense and
detailed as this one, it is possible to note
only a few highlights and examples.
Shulman's contributions include a long
chapter on the need for tinnitus models in re-
search. He has been interested for some
time in auditory brain-stem response in tin-
nitus, so previous, present and possible fu-
ture work in this area is discussed in a
chapter, with special reference to cerebral
anatomy as it impacts on the auditory sys-
tem. Tinnitus is notoriously protean in its
causes and manifestations, so it is important
to establish a useful system of classification.
He and his associate, Dr. Barbara Goldstein
'
describe the various methods now being
used to evaluate the type and severity of tin-
(continued on page 9)
7
8
Boom & Doom (continued)
ability to respond to sound." Dr. Liberman
believes that the most sensitive part of the
apparatus is at the base of the stereocilia,
where they connect to the rest of the cell.
The connecting joint at this site appears to
be easily broken, and subsequently the link-
ing filament may also be pulled away from
its moorings.
People apparently accumulate this type
of damage as time goes on, and so do ex-
perimental animals. To study animals with
perfect" ears, scientists must raise them in
soundproof rooms. With accumulating
damage, hearing loss becomes more severe.
At first most of the toss is usually at high
frequencies, between four and five octaves
above middle C (well above the normal
speech range). In time the loss often progres-
ses to reach frequencies important for
speech.
Does it matter whether we hear these
frequencies? Although the loss may not be
noticeable as difficulty in understanding
speech or even music in quiet surroundings,
it can be important in noisy situations,
where many consonants will be missed.
High frequencies are also used in part to
help interpret where a sound is coming
from, because the outer ear shields against
entry of high-frequency sounds from the
back. In addition, high-frequency sounds
can help people in the dark. If you tum out
the lights in a room," Dr. Kiang comments,
you ' 11 have a funny feeling as you get close
to a wall. High frequencies bouncing off the
wall are detected and interpreted as a loom-
ing obstruction. This used to be called the
sixth' sense and is compromised by block-
ing the ears." Blind people can use their
ears as sonar devices, like some bats, albeit
with considerably less skill.
These are fine points, though," says
Dr. Kiang. One can suffer a lot of structural
Panel I - Stereocilia on hair cells. Shown are five
tufts from a normal ear.
Panels II & Ill - Show disarray, the mildest form of
permanent noise-induced damage.
Panel IV - One cell with partial loss of the tall row
of stereocilia (at arrow), and another cell withal-
most total loss of all stereocilia. These various
types of damage are permanent and irreversible.
Micrographs courtesy of Or. M. Charles Liberman
Boom & Doom(continued)
damage without its becoming detectable in
any routine way, such as on standard
audiometric examinations." And the brain
compensates very effectively, even after a
lot of sensory information has been lost.
Hearing problems also arise from damage to
the auditory nerve and central nervous path-
ways. If enough damage accumulates, the
loss of cues begins to impair communica-
tion and social interaction. Decoding speech
in a noisy room becomes difficult, and older
people may seem confused or inattentive
simply because they are unable to hear clear-
ly.
The evidence linking hearing disorders
with exposure to intermittently loud sounds
such as rock music is controversial," accord-
ing to Dr. Kiang. But it is probably safest to
avoid sounds that cause pain, produce ring-
ing in the ears, or are simply annoyingly
stressful. Sticking your fingers in your ears
and just leaving the scene are two very ef-
fective ways of playing safe. Once hearing
is lost for over a month, it rarely returns, so
the best advice is to conserve what you have."D
Classified
SPECIAL PILLOW CAN RELIEVE
EAR NOISES AND
AID SLEEP
Your sleeping habit may be robbing
you of a proper night's sleep.
The Ear Relaxer can change your life.
Austin Skaggs, the inventor of the
Ear Relaxer Pillow reports that it has
helped him and many other people
who have tried it.
SEND $14.95 + $3.00
SHIPPING/HANDLING TO:
EAR RELAXER,
P 0 B 90,
VICTOR, WV 25938
Book Review (continued)
nitus. The concentration is on severe
ideopathic ear noise.
The origin of tinnitus is discussed by
Tonndorf. Vernon, generally credited with
introducing the frequently helpful techni-
que of masking, reviews a decade of his re-
search with this modality. Aran's long-time
interest has been in the electrophysiology
of the auditory system, and he is working
in this area both for research purposes and
for its potentiality as a method of treatment.
Every other aspect of interest to those
studying and treating tinnitus is discussed
somewhere in the book- a truly awe-in-
spiring assemblage of knowledge.
Shulman and his co-authors have been
well served by the old and respected medi-
cal publishing firm, Lea & Febiger. The
careful editing (with a few minor excep-
tions) is evident, and the format is attrac-
tive and functional. Shulman's Tinnitus is a
milestone in the history of publication
about this subject, and it will be of per-
manent value even after some of the facts
have been displaced by further research and
clinical experience. Everyone concerned
with tinnitus, and probably no one more
than its editor/author, awaits a second edi-
tion that will contain details of a reliably ef-
fective treatment.D
Self Help Groups
Tinnitus Self-Help groups meet
regularly.
Check with your local group for time
and place.
New groups are forming. Contact
A TA 's national office for group locations
and for further information about starting or
joining a group.
9
10
There is Hope
by Charles J. Adams, Jr.
It still
takes a lot out
of me, but it's
much better
than it used to
be."
I sup-
pose that
should be the
conclusion of
this article,
since it fairly
well sums up
what I'm
about to relate.
Since tin-
nitus is rela-
tively new to me (about 15 months), I don't
know too much about it, or how much has
been written on the subject.
However, I am aware there are degrees
of severity among individuals.
I have written this article so that it
might prevent someone from going through
the unncecessary grief and anxiety I was
forced to endure.
Having ended a three-week vacation in
Florida in February 1989, I experienced for
the first time an apparent partial loss of hear-
ing in my left ear.
Thinking it may have been temporary,
brought on by swimming in the chilly Gulf
of Mexico and following that almost imme-
diately with a dip in a warm pool, I chose to
ignore it.
Sometime later, back at the office, I
answered the telephone. Holding it to my
left ear, I could not hear the person on the
other end of the line. I thought it was a bad
connection. I handed the phone to an
employee, and again ignored the problem.
Later in the day, at another phone, the
same thing happened. Now, it was frighten-
ing. Perhaps the loss of hearing was not tem-
porary.
In the days that followed, I started hear-
ing sounds in my left ear. Not at all familiar
with tinnitus, I still tried to write off what I
assumed and hoped was a temporary, minor
infection.
It soon became apparent that it was
going to be necessary to see a doctor. An ap-
pointment was made, and all the routine
tests were done in the doctor's office. This
is where the situation took a dramatic tum
and fear began to set in.
My ear, nose and throat doctor called
me into his office to give me the results of
the various tests. He did not mince words.
Mr. Adams," he said, you have experienced
a seventy percent loss of hearing in your left
ear and a twenty-five percent loss of high-
frequency hearing in your right ear." I was
stunned, of course, and after the initial
shock, I asked the only question I could.
What can I do about it?" He replied, For
your hearing, I prescribe a hearing-aid. But,
your other problem is called tinnitus. The
sounds you experience in your left ear come
from severe nerve damage." It was the first
time in my life I had heard the word tin-
nitus." I asked the doctor what I could ex-
pect.
Mr. Adams, I am afraid we cannot do
anything about that. It will probably get
worse as time goes on, and you will just
have to get used to it," he said.
I couldn't buy that. Come on," I
pleaded, there must be something that can
be done!"
Sorry, Mr. Adams," he replied, that's
about it."
I knew I would not give up. Something
could be done. I instructed him to send the
There is Hope (continued)
test results to my regular physician. He sent
the data and a letter to my general prac-
titioner, and his statement said essentially
the same thing he had told me: I cannot do
any more for Mr. Adams. He will just have
to get used to it."
My personal doctor then put me
through several more tests at an area hospi-
tal. The results were negative. No help, and
no apparent hope.
During this period, I experienced con-
siderable screeching, swishing and ringing"
sounds in my head. That is the best way I
can describe it. In addition to the sounds,
the build-up of pressure became almost un-
bearable. I am not a doctor, but I am also
not a quitter. I had to pursue every avenue
of relief. I went to another ear, nose and
throat doctor who had me take more and dif-
ferent tests. The results were the same.
Negative. No help, and no apparent hope.
A hearing-aid was fitted, and then
another hearing-aid, and yet another. I had
almost had it, and my fear and anger was
turning to despair. Inside my head, the tor-
ment and the noises continued unabated.
The pressure was such that I coiled in my
chair like a contortionist just to help al-
leviate the mental anguish and sooth the
pain. In that almost fetal position, I ex-
perienced the only real relief I could. On my
left side, the sounds subsided and I was able
to sleep reasonably well at night. After
being told, it will never get any better," and
that I must just get used to it," and with the
knowledge that tinnitus has indeed sent
some of its victims to mental hospitals, I al-
most did lose hope. I suffered three break-
downs of sobbing, searing pain and agony.
But that was then, some fourteen
months ago.
This is today.
My condition has not, repeat, has not
gotten worse. It has gotten considerably bet-
ter.
Is it the spirit of the human soul? Is it
attitudinal? Is it some kind of a minor
miracle? Have I just gotten used to it?"
Who can ever say?
I have written this to assure you that
there always is hope. Don't let them scare
you. Never lose your fighting spirit.
I don't hear those screeching, swishing
sounds" and the pressure has eased. It is not
much more now than the sound one hears
when a conch shell is placed to the ear and
the whoosh of the ocean" is heard.
If a doctor one year ago had told me he
could put me in the condition I am in today
(versus what it was like then), I would have
been willing to pay thousands of dollars.
Certainly, I wear a hearing-aid on my
right ear for high frequency sounds, and I
don't have much hearing in my left ear, but
at least the symptoms of tinnitus have les-
sened considerably.
Thus, when they say they can't do any-
thing for you, that there is little or no hope,
take heart.
Tinnitus still takes a lot out of me, but
it's much, much better than it once was.
With a little hope on your part, the
same could happen to you.o
1 1
12
MEDIA WATCH: Tinnitus in the News
hy Cliff Collins
This issue's Golden Earplugs go to
ABC's 20/20" and Woman's Day
magaLine. The popular TV documentary
spent a portion of its December 14, 1990
broadcast on hearing protection, hearing
loss and tinnitus. It focused on the dual
problems of industrial and recreational
(loud music, in this case) noise exposures.
The January 15, 199 L Woman's Day ran a
lengthy article detailing recent develop-
ments in treating ear problems. Included
was an informed discussion of tinnitus,
which traditionally has gotten short shrift in
most media presentations about ears and
hearing. The piece noted that tinnitus is
common, with 50 million Americans
bothered by it at some time in their lives, ad-
ding that some people's tinnitus is helped
by maskers or hearing aids.
A Jarring Note: So-called high-im-
pact aerobics, the kind of aerobic dancing
most participants do in which both feet
repeatedly strike the floor, continues to fall
from favor. In the past few years aerobic
dancers have been turning up with foot and
leg problems, sometimes serious ones. Now
comes word that the bouncing may damage
delicate structures of the inner ear, causing
dizziness, tinnitus or hearing loss.
The New York Times reported Decem-
ber 6, 1990 that doctors increasingly are
noticing such symptoms in aerobics-class
devotees, especially instructors. Michael A.
Weintraub, M.D., professor of neurology at
New York Medical College, says the exact
reasons high-impact aerobics seems related
to the ear symptoms remain unclear. After
all, runners as a group do a lot of pounding,
but no similar ear problems have cropped
up in them. Perceptively, Weintraub men-
tions that the blaring music that frequently
accompanies exercise classes may be as
responsible as the repetitive jumping up and
down. That sure makes sense.
A Sound Success: The December
Reader's Digest related a fascinating, true
account of an autistic girl whose autism ap-
parently was completely related to her hy-
persensitive hearing. From birth, her ears
were unable to tolerate normal sounds, caus-
ing her to retreat into a distant, self-centered
state in which she could not relate emotion-
ally or intellectually with her family or sur-
roundings. In Fighting for Georgie," an
excerpt from the forthcoming book Sound
of a Miracle," Annabel Stehli, the girl's
mother, explains the painful process which
finally led to a cure.
After brief therapy described as
auditory training" and administered by a
French physician, Stehli's daughter over-
came the physical discomfort that sound had
always caused her. And after extensive
socialization, counseling, education and
time, Georgie graduated from college with
highest honors.
Short Takes: Several Southern
newspapers created a flurry when they ap-
parently printed a drug company's press
release verbatim. Interamerican Phar-
maceutical Corp.'s announcement that it
had patented a drug for tinnitus caused
hundreds of people to respond to a call for
drug trials. The University of Miami School
of Medicine may run the double-blind tests
beginning in March, but no more than 20
people will be able to participate and the
school had not officially approved the trials
when the cattle call was issued, reported the
Miami Herald ... Tinnitus and the ATA got
a nice spread in the December 18 issue of
The Baltimore Sun, which mentioned pos-
sible causes, factors that worsen it and ways
to help ... The Hearing Journal (October
1990) recounts that the majority of people
Media Watch (continued)
who fire guns have hearing loss and a sub-
stantial proportion experience tinnitus ...
The Associated Press reported last year that
two researchers believe they have linked the
high-pitched noise emitted by most com-
puter terminals with stress symptoms in
women working with computers. The inves-
tigators wondered if further study might
link the noise with other health problems at-
tributed to computer use.
Cliff Collins is an Oregonjreelance
writer and health commentator. Send news
clips and brief broadcast reports relating to
tinnitus (include source and date run) to
MEDIA WATCH, ATA, PO Box 5, Portland,
OR 97207.o.
American Tinnitus Association
is a participant in the
Combined Federal Campaign
#0514 in the CFC Brochure
Thank You For Helping
To Fight Tinnitus
"COPING WITH TINNITUS"
e STRESS MANAGEMENT &'TREATMENT
e TINNITUS MANAGEMENT IS OFTEN
COMPLICATED BY ANXIETY AND STRESS
e NOW A UNIQUE CASSETTE PROGRAM IS
AVAILABLE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DAILY
REINFORCEMENT AND SUPPORT FROM THE
STRESS OF TINNITUS WITHOUT COMPLEX
INSTRUMENTATION &' VALUABLE OFFICE TIME
There is a growing Interest in psychological methods of tinnitus
control such as systematic relaxation procedures which help the
patient cope with the tension of tinnitus.
Subjects with tinnitus are being taught ways to relax as part of a
total tinnitus program which may include hearing aids. tinnitus
maskers and progressive muscle relaxation based on principles of
conditioning. Relaxation procedures are usually easily mastered and can be performed daily in the
patient's home environment It has been demonstrated that the relaxation response can release musde
tension. lower blood pressure and slow heart and breath rates.
A relaxation method has been developed entitled Metronome Conditioned Relaxation (MCR) which
has successfully treated for many years chronic pain. tension headaches. insomnia and many other
conditions.
The program consists of one cassette tape of Metronome Conditioned Relaxation and two additional
tapes of unique masking sounds which have demonstrated substantial benefit whenever the patient
feels the need of additional relief. These recordings can be used to induce sleeping or as a soothing
backdrop for activity and can be played on a simple portable cassette player.
ALL ORDeRS MUST Be ACCOMPANieD 6Y
CHOCK. VIM M A S T e ~ . OR INSTm.mONAL P.O.
6796 ~ T ST . UPPER DARBY, PA 19082
Phone (215) 5285222
13
14
Questions & Answers
by Jack A. Vernon, Ph.D., Director, Oregon Hear-
ing Research Center
Question: "In 'Life Extension', written by
Pearson & Shaw, HYDERGINE was
claimed to improve hearing loss and tin-
nitus. Is it any good?"- Ms. T. from Connecticut.
Answer: Hydergine was originally
developed as an anti-hypertension medica-
tion. It is still used for that purpose although
it is now very far down on the list of anti-hy-
pertensive drugs. More recently, Hydergine
has been used to improve memory in
Alzheimer patients. In 1986 over 750,000
prescriptions were written for this purpose.
A study conducted at the Colorado School
of Medicine, and another conducted at Jef-
ferson Medical College of Philadelphia,
found Hydergine to be ineffective for this
purpose, and there is now a petition to FDA
to have hydergine removed from the
market. Pearson and Shaw listed the refer-
ence for the effect ofHydergine upon hear-
ing and tinnitus. I checked that reference
and came to a different decision. It seemed
to me that the cited study offered no
evidence that Hydergine had a positive ef-
fect on either hearing loss or tinnitus. I can-
not explain why Pearson and Shaw reported
to the contrary. Testimonials are impressive,
and most of us are influenced by them. The
fact is, we should not accept testimonials as
a basis for therapy, but instead, they should
be used as a basis from which to conduct
proper studies. Hearing loss involving the
inner ear almost always cannot be repaired,
so claims for "improved hearing" should be
viewed with suspicion, or at least with a
host of questions. Hearing aids, on the other
hand, can help compensate for hearing loss
and any thing which improves one's hearing
ability can, in some cases, also help to
reduce tinnitus. In our Tinnitus Clinic, we
find that 16% of the patients we see get
relief for their tinnitus by use of hearing
aids. Since you, Ms. T., are a senior citizen,
and could very likely have some hearing
loss, I would recommend trying hearing
aids if you have not already done so. May I
suggest that if you see a hearing aid dis-
penser you discuss with him the possibility
of a trial period with Tinnitus Instruments
made by Starkey- either the MA-l's or the
MA-3's. I hope this is of help to you. I
would gladly discuss this matter with your
dispenser should he think it necessary.
Question: This letter comes from Ms. C. in
Pisa, Italy. and while it does not pose
specific questions, it does contain informa-
tion which might interest to some readers.
Ms. C. indicates that her tinnitus is in her
hearing ear and not her deaf ear. Her letter
questions the idea that tinnitus is the hearing
of external sounds generated by modem-day
technology. This lady indicated that she lis-
tens to music all day to "block" the tinnitus
(which, by the way, is good advice for
many tinnitus patients) but at night time she
has real problems.
Answer: We often recommend that tinnitus
patients try using the static of an FM radio
on a bedside table at night time, leaving it
on all night. Or the Marsona TSC-300
which provides relatively high pitched noise
on the "rain" setting but not on the "water-
fall" setting. More about the Marsona TSC-
300 in a later letter.
Question: Ms. W. in California asks if the
product ProZainE relieves tinnitus as adver-
tised in numerous mail-order catalogs.
Answer: According to the advertisement,
ProZainE, (also marketed under the names
Tinnitus Relief', and Bio-Ear', is an herbal
mixture containing aloe. I know of no tin-
Q & A (continued)
nitus patient who has been helped by this
drug. On the other hand, I have only heard
from a few patients who have actually tried
it. Have any of you readers tried ProZainE?
May I hear from those of you who have
tried it? Generally, I would say that an ad-
vertisement, such as this, is not sufficient
grounds by which to establish a therapy.
The Hanover House claims that, "many
people have found relief.. .. ". Once again,
we are confronted with testimonials at best.
When effective treatments for tinnitus be-
come available, you will hear of them in
Tinnitus Today. This doesn't mean that
AT A can endorse treatments but it can
make real advances known to you. One
more comment, I compliment Ms. W for her
inquiry. As she says, desperate people will
try anything so that the tinnitus population
needs to know, not only about proper treat-
ments, but also about those claims which
might be harmful. I doubt if ProZainE is
harmful but I also doubt if it is of any value
for tinnitus.
Question: "After using, for the first time, a
hearing aid for about two weeks, my tin-
nitus appears to have increased. Is this in-
crease imagined or can amplification of the
hearing aid actually increase tinnitus?" -
Mr. L. from Massachusetts.
Answer: We have seen a few cases where
the initial use of hearing aids exacerbated
tinnitus. In all of these cases, the hearing aid
fitting seemed to have been the problem.
That is, there was too much occlusion of the
ear canal in the fitting so that the low fre-
quencies were favored. In some cases,
changing from an in-the-ear fitting to a be-
hind-the-ear fitting solved the problem. In
some cases, it was necessary to use a tube
fitting so as to leave the ear canal as open as
possible. May I suggest returning to your
dispenser to see if changes in the fitting can
be helpful. You indicate that you have only
one hearing aid. Is your hearing loss
restricted to one side only? Do you have tin-
nitus in both ears and, if so, did the tinnitus
increase in both ears, although you had a
hearing aid on one side only? While wear-
ing the hearing aid, did the tinnitus on that
side appear to be less? Were you given the
opportunity to try a Tinnitus Instrument,
which is a combination of a hearing aid and
a tinnitus masker? If you or your dispenser
feel that I might be of help, please feel free
to call me at (503) 494-8032.
Question: "My problem is that of keeping
the harmful effects of sound out of my ears.
I wear custom-made ear plugs with ear
muffs over them so that sounds are low and
comfortable and yet, I will suffer for hours,
or days, or months after sound exposure.
How does the sound get in, and how can I
keep it out?" - Mr. R from California.
Answer: Ear protection does not totally
block out all sound. For example, you indi-
cate that the ear plugs you use are rated at
23 dB. That means they will reduce incom-
ing sound by 23 dB. If you are exposed to,
say, 118 dB while wearing your ear plugs,
your ears will actually be exposed to about
95 dB, which is sufficient to exacerbate tin-
nitus for most patients. There is one thing
about ear plugs which you
should check. As we chew
or talk, the external ear
canal moves, and this
movement can break the
seal of ear plugs. They are
still in the ear and one is
aware of them, but their
seal is not adequate and
more sound is admitted. I
would suggest that you try
15
16
Q & A (continued)
ear plugs of a different sort. Try the Insta-
Putty ear plugs, which fonns a seal in the
outer ear and does not enter the ear canal.
These plugs are available from lnsta-Mold
Prosthetics, Inc. P.O. Box E, Oaks, PA,
19456.
Ear muffs with liquid-filled seals are
excellent, but that seal also can be broken
by the ear bows of one's eye glasses. So if
you wear glasses put the ear muffs on first
and then arrange the eye glasses so as not to
break the seal.
The fact that things sound quiet to you,
and yet cause exacerbation of your tinnitus,
is puzzling. Usually tinnitus is not bothered
by such low level sounds. I read your letter
very carefully to see if it was some specific
kind of sound which bothers you but I see
no evidence of that, although you should be
aware of the fact that, in very rare cases, tin-
nitus can be triggered by certain specific
sounds which need not necessarily be loud.
Try the things I have suggested, and let me
know the results.
Question: "I have been taking Tryp-
tophan each night upon awaking for over
two years. If I should stop, how will I be
able to sleep?"- Mr. P. in British Columbia
Answer: On matters of drugs and other
medical treatments, you must seek the coun-
sel of your primary physician and, above
all, do not prescribe for yourself. Many
patients elect to take themselves off
prescribed drugs and that too should be
done only with their prescribing physician's
consent. I am constantly amazed at the num-
ber of drugs people in this country take and
without any knowledge of possible drug in-
teractions. That is why one's primary
physician should be consulted before trying
new drugs since he or she at least knows
your medication history. Now, having said
all that, may I suggest that you discuss with
your physician the possibility of a test with
the drug Xanax. It has produced tinnitus
relief in half the patients tested and, in addi-
tion, one of its side effects is that it
produces sleepiness.
Question: "The most dramatic increase in
my tinnitus happened after spending an
extra ten hours a week in front of my com-
puter monitor. Is there any evidence that a
60 megahertz electromagnetic field would
affect one's hearing?"
Answer: It is certainly not correct to label
what I am about to say as an answer - it
isn't. It is more like some guesses. We all
accept that anything which produces stress
is likely to exacerbate tinnitus. If the in-
crease in your work load, which incidentally
places you before the computer, is stressful,
perhaps it is that which has increased your
tinnitus. But back to the computer monitor-
in the magazine, MacUser, Feb. 1990, there
is an article entitled, "Unsafe at Any Fre-
quency" (pp 147-151). That article indicates
that most of the magnetic radiation coming
from the computer monitor primarily comes
from the side of the monitor and not out the
front. Thus, your position relative to the
computer could be important. The presence
of that article suggests that people are con-
cerned about the possibility of radiation
damage to the computer user. Despite con-
cluding that, no study had found any ad-
verse health effects from using computer
monitors the article, nevertheless, goes on to
indicate how to protect yourself. Radiation
declines rapidly with distance so they
recommend sitting an arm's length away
from the computer. If you cannot work at
arm's length, then periodically change your
position so as to expose a different part of
your body. A void the sides of the computer.
Q & A (continued)
If there are several computers in the room,
arrange them so as avoid the sides. Finally,
the article advises not to panic, work is un-
derway. You can bet if the computer does
turn out to pose a health problem from radia-
tion, it will be effectively shielded in the fu-
ture.
Question: Mr. P. from Michigan shares
with us his experience with chiropractors.
One neck treatment cured his tinnitus which
started suddenly at night for no known
reason. Mr. P's tinnitus was less than one
day in duration.
Answer: We are always interested in hear-
ing about treatments which relieve tinnitus.
And we agree with Mr. P. that anyone who
suspects whiplash or cervical involvement
as the possible cause of their tinnitus probab-
ly should consult a chiropractor. On the
other hand, we know of three cases where
tinnitus seems to have been induced by
chiropractic adjustment. Perhaps both situa-
tions, both cause and cure, were merely
coincidental.
Question: Mr. R. from West Virginia cor-
rectly points out that the Marsona 1200-A,
as advertised by Ambient Shapes in Tin-
nitus Today, does not successfully mask all
tinnitus patients, and especially does not
mask patients with high frequency tinnitus.
The other Marsona unit, the Travel Sound
Conditioner, Model TSC-300, (also in the
same advertisement in Tinnitus Today)
produces a relatively high frequency noise
in the "rain" mode, which we find will suc-
cessfully mask the tinnitus for many
patients who attend our Tinnitus Clinic.
When tinnitus is primarily a night-time prob-
lem, we often recommend a trial period with
the TSC-300 as a bedside masker.
The reader should be aware that one
other factor may be involved here, and that
is the kind and amount of hearing loss
which accompanies the tinnitus. High fre-
quency tinnitus, located in the pitch region
of high frequency hearing loss, often does
not respond positively to masking gener-
ators such as FM Radio static or the Mar-
sona TSC-300. The main thing, prior to
purchase, is to try these units to see if they
relieve the tinnitus.
We have been in contact with Mr.
David A. Theisen of the Marpac Corp. (the
manufacturer of Marsona 1200-A and TSC-
300), and he informs us that Marpac is look-
ing into the possibility of making a
dedicated tinnitus masker which will
generate a very high frequency noise. We
will keep you informed.D
ATA PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENTS WIN
NATIONAL AWARD
The ATA public service an-
nouncements featuring the Crazy 8s rock
group have been awarded the annual Telly
Award for 1991. This is a national competi-
tion honoring non-network TV and Cable
commercial and non-broadcast video
productions .. These announcements, in
music-video format, warn people about the
dangers of loud sounds.
Television stations nationwide have
recently been offered copies of these PSAs.
If your local station hasn't requested theirs
they may do so by contacting the AT A and
specifying their preferred format ( 1" tape or
3/4" cassette.)
You can help inform people about the
need to protect their ears against loud noise
by calling your local television station and
asking them to play the AT A PSAs.o
17
18
Tony Randall
A TA is happy to announce that Tony
Randall has recently become an honorary
board member. You will recall that Mr. Ran-
dall has helped AT A in the past by appearing
in Public Service Announcements, in which
he acknowledges his own tinnitus and tells
the audience of his love for comedy and
opera. Last year Mr. Randall testified on be-
half of AT A before the Senate Appropria-
tions sub-committee along with ATA 's
director, Gloria Reich, and volunteer, Carl
Ross. His testimony and that of AT A and
other interested consumer organizations, and
your letters helped assure an increased
budget for the National Institute on Deafness
and Communication Disorders. This year's
budget hearings will be even more crucial.
Tony can't do it alone. You can help by writ-
ing your congressman and to members of the
appropriations subcommittees. Tell your own
story but be sure to ask for additional funding
for hearing research, especially tinnitus. Infor-
mation follows. Thank you, Tony, for your
continuing help and goodwill from all of us
who experience tinnitus.o
A Mote in My Ear
by Sal Parlato, Jr.
What are you, Secret Sound?
At intervals you an instrument seem
Within hardly hearing ears
you play first of all as fife
then as string and reed;
next (paid at all any small heed)
clavier, clarinet, brass, and drum
till -- still rehearsing --
reversing tO a hum.
Rather should I ask
.wh.Q are you, Muted Musician?
For often you sing as soprano alone
turning into tenor separate in tone;
starting out as solo, becoming duet,
changing to a clwrus,followed by quartet
all among yourselves competing
same strange throatless throb repeating.
~ a r e you, Extra Echo?
Stand you for some a harbinger speaker
of vigorous voices soon to ring weaker,
while meaning jor others a waned souvenir
of messages. now muddled, once cornea clear?
Or serve you, sir, as Deaf s sonic shadow
twisted somehow up-down-inside-out,
its ohm-lines wrongly bear-trapped below
that .freed. would strongly race about?
Answer true, Tease Tinnitus,
whichever role you claim--
windless whistle
eerie aria
a capella alarm
mysterious mantra:
has nature planned it
or does God demand it?
If yes, let no lament result.
But if hand of man managed this insult
who is to blame
except the same ?"tl
Financial Summary
This brief
financial summary
provides the
backdrop to the
Association's
work over the
last financial
year and
highlights some
of the wide range
of activities
carried out by
the ATA in
providing help,
support , and
education for
those interested
in the problem of
tinnitus.
Complete audited
financial
statements are
available.
Announcements
10-31-88 Support & Revenue Collected
Support
$232,538 Contributions
61,712 Combined Federal Campaign
7,935 Restricted Contributions
302,203 Total Support
Revenue
17,818 Investment Income
10,038 Publications
27,856 Total Revenue
330,059 Total Support and Revenue
Expenditures paid
Program
50,497 Research
7,953 Research, restricted funds
126, 351 Public health education
62,077 Professional education
246,878 Total program services
Support services
11,436 Managemcnl general
12,529 Fund Raising
23,965 Total support services
270,843 Total expenditures
Excess of support and
revenues collected over
59,216 expenditures paid
184,527 Fund balances at beginning
of year
$243,743 Fund balances at end of year
6-30-89
$288,025
50,322
11 t 835
378,052
14,540
13,330
27,870
378 , 052
23 , 616
1,165
109,454
55,057
189, 292
12,719
8,316
21,035
210,327
167 ( 725
243,743
$411 ,468
BIBLIOGRAPHY SERVICE Portland, OR 97207 and enclose a check pay-
AT A's Tinnitus Bibliography is a list of able to ATA.
more than 2000 writings relating to tinnitus. CUTOFF DATE FOR RECEMNG
It may be ordered for $55 (member's price TINNITUS TODAY
$30). You may request a subject search list The 15th of the month previous to publi-
(if you want only one or two topics at a cation is the last day we can receive your
charge of $10 ($5 for members) per topic. dues renewal and assure you will receive the
For those who already have the bibliography, next issue. (Example) If your payment ar-
the Third Supplement to the A TA Tinnitus rives after February 15th, 1991 , you will miss
Bibliography is now available for $10. Ad- the March issue. The first issue you receive
dress requests to ATA Bibliography, POB 5, will be June, 199l.D
19
20
Please Write!
Letter to ATA Members
It is time, once again, to contact your
legislators in Washington who are members
of either the U.S. Senate or House Full
Health & Human Services Appropriations
Committee, to alert them to the need for ex-
panded development of research and training
for the National Institute on Deafness and
other Communications Disorders for fiscal
year 1992.
Testimony will be heard by the Senate
and House HHS Appropriations Subcommit-
tees in April and May.
Due to the budget constraints, the
economy and the War in the Persian Gulf,
funds will be very tight this year; any letters
you can write to your Senator or Con-
Committee members come from the fol-
lowing states: AL,AK,AR,AZ,CA,CO,FL,
GA,HI,IA,IL,IN,KY,LA,MA,MD,MI,MN,
MO,MS,NC,ND,NE,NH,NJ,NM,NV,NY,OH,
OK,OR,PA,SC,TN,TX,UT,VT,WA,WI,WV.
If your state is listed and you want to
write, call your local newspaper. They' II give
you the committee member's name and ad-
dress.
Your letters have helped in previous
years -thank you for helping this year too.
Sample Letter
Date
The Honorable ...
... Office Building
Washington DC Zipcode
personal phone calls or Dear Senator, (Congressman/woman):
you can make would be extremely help- I am tremendously grateful for your
ful m the effort to promote expanded alloca- tr
1
f th FY '91 A t'
. . . . . s ong suppOI o e ppropna 1ons
t10ns for hearmg and tmmtus research m the f d' + th N t' 1 I t't t D af
NIDCD un mg 10r e a 10na ns 1 u eon e -
ness and Other Communications Disorders.
Please take a few minutes to add your As the Senate( or House) FY '92 HHS
voice to our collective plea for finding the Appropriations Committee prepares to meet
preventions, causes and cures of hearing dis- again, I encourage you to continue to foster
orders. A sample letter follows along with the promotion of research and training oppor-
the names of the key people to write. tunities for this new institute, as a strong base
Senators (Key people)
for its growth and development.
The Honorable Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), Your leadership in helping to facilitate
311 Hart Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510 the communications disorders program is
The Honorable Tom Harkin (D-IA), deeply appreciated, and I would be so
316 Hart Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510 pleased if you would again give it your stead-
The Honorable Mark Hatfield (R-OR), 711 Hart fast commitment.
Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510 With over 49 million people already af-
The Honorable Arlen Specter (R-PA), 303 Hart Senate fected (more than 12 million with severe tin-
Office Bldg,Washington DC 20510 nitus), and with our elderly population
Representatives (Key people) increasing, it is urgent that we plan now to
reduce the long-range effects of these in-
The Honorable Jamie Whitten (D-MS), 2314 Rayburn
visible, but debilitating disorders.
House Office Bldg, Washington DC 20515
The Honorable William Natcher(D-KY),2333
Rayburn House Office Bldg,Washington DC 20515
In my own (family/institution/profes-
sion/etc) ..... (insert personal story).
Thank you for the opportunity to share
my concerns with you ... Sincerely,a
Tributes
The ATA tribute fund is designated 100% for research. Thank you to all those people listed
below for sharing memorable occasions in this helpful way. Contributions are tax deduct-
ible and are promptly acknowledged with an appropriate card. Thegiftamountisneverdisclosed
IN MEMORY OF Pearl Schwartz Peggy Davis-Birthday/Good Mrs. R. Nachtigal! In Ap-
Evelyn Alleva Ruth Hammerschlag Health preciation
Marianne Fanelli Michael Shapiro "Jeffrey's Grandparents" Aunt Jean I Uncle Joe Wolfson
Michael Antinelli Judy Swaaley Dr. Dan Dotson Vivian Nervegna Birthday
Ms. Margaret Antinelli Mary A. Smith Mrs. John B. Rich Alfred Nervegna
Dorthea Arnold Mary M. Anderson Dr. Elias & Entire Wonderful Clifford E. Porter 75 Years
Angela Del Villar Mrs. Hildy Snyder Staff Robert Eaton Porter
Archie Brown Mr. and Mrs. Lenny Mayer Jean and Joe Wolfson Mrs. A. Redmountain-Aiex's
Herbert J. Gallman Mae K. Springer John R. Emmett, M.D. Recovery
Ellen DeLeyer George A. Springer Dr. and Mrs. Luther J. Smith II Jean and Joe Wolfson
Joseph Alam/Trudy Drucker W. C. Story Luther J. Smith Ill Gloria E. Reich, Ph.D.
Denise Marie Diaz Anne Marie Story House of Epstein-First State-of-the-Art Products
Jean and Joe Wolfson Ruth Taillle Grandchild Ralph Revere
Lena Falino Mr. and Mrs. Hugh T. Gower Jean and Joe Wolfson Mrs. Ann Revere
Ann Corbo Mrs. J. G. Teasley M/M Fred Feldman New Home Abe Rosenberg 75th
Frank C. Flynn J. Garland Teasley Jean and Joe Wolfson Birthday
Mary F. Peters Richard Trahon Stanley Feldman. Great SuccessPauline Rosenberg
Lillian Forman Larry and Dotty Maher Aunt Jean & Uncle Joe Wolfson Mrs Rosenblum-Husband's
West Seneca Central Employees Robert Turner Feldman Lily's 90th Recovery
West Seneca East Sunshine Club Mary Jane Turner Birthday Mr. and Mrs. Wolfson
West Seneca Teachers Association William W. Worochock Aunt Jean & Uncle Joe Wolfson House of Rosenthai-
Myer J. Goldsmith Anita L. Simoneau Feldman- Mother's 90th Andrea's Finalist
Rose and Alfred M. Polen Hyman "Zucky" Zuckerman Birthday "Mamacita and Gramps"
Mrs. Ann Goodfader Jean and Joe Wolfson Jean and Joe Wolfson David Schaffer In Appreciation
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Mills IN HONOR OF M/M Fred Fredericks Nov. 29 Jean and Joe Wolfson
Sydell Gordon 3rd DFC Jean and Joe Wolfson Irwin Sealfon
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Eisenberg James C. Warren Gardner- Birth of Anna Marcia Pierpont
Gladys Dupuy Gross Vicki & Tom Akers- Joseph Alam /Trudy Drucker Mrs. Ben Senft- Complete
Laurin M. Linson Christmas M/M H. Granoff Jeffs Marriage Recovery
Robert C. Hansen, DDS Jack and Dorothy Akers Jean and Joe Wolfson Jean and Joe Wolfson
Bernard and Bernice Mayer Vicki Akers - Christmas M/M Isaac HammAII Nora Shargorodskaya New
Stanley W. Hassler Rick and Jan Swain Grandchildren Home
Wayne A. Enders Mrs. Alamo Son's Marriage Jean and Joe Wolfson Joseph Alam I Trudy Drucker
Martha Kusian Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wolfson Jack and Jeanne Harary- Dr. Rose Smart Friendship
Peter M. Kusian Mrs. Jo Alexander Hanukkah Jean and Joe Wolfson
Leonard Levitt Emily S. Kerley Robert Harary Ms. Marlene Smith New Job
Karen Levitt Mrs. Ullrich Bell-Safe Return Jack A. Harary Birthday Jean and Joe Wolfson
Dora and Eli Lipschitz Jean and Joe Wolfson Dan and Kim Harary Mrs. Martin Starr Mother's
Dianne Egherman Benson- Sam and Helen's Maxine Hawkinson- BirthdayBirthday
Clarence C. Luckhardt Marriage G. L. Hawkinson Jean and Joe Wolfson
Mrs. Siiri M. Luckhardt Rev. Samuel E. Benson Jane Hecker-Cain G. W. Stone- Birthday
Richard Allen Markley Mr. Robert H. Boerner Bergen Tinnitus Group Joseph Alam I Trudy Drucker
David F. Williams Christmas M/M Andy Hilson - New Home Surgical Supply Service
Mr. Mayer Susan J. Beemer Jean and Joe Wolfson For Honesty
Len Mayer M/M D. Brodsky Sara's Bill Huott Birthday Joseph Wolfson
Marion Ogull Good Health Joseph Alam I Trudy Drucker Tigger
Judith I. Kennedy Jean and Joe Wolfson Jeffrey Kendis Box License Aaron and Betty Williams
Veronica Perusina Sara Brodsky-Continued "Mamacita and Gramps" Dr. Jack Vernon
Anne Marie Story Good Health Joyce E. Koehler Ronald C. Allan
Stuart Peterson Jean and Joe Wolfson Joseph Alam I Trudy Drucker Louise Consalo
Jake and Pauline Michael Genevieve A. Butts M/M David Kahn-Aaron's IN HONOR OF TRUDY
Brandon "Chase" Rasch Thomas A. Butts Bar Mitzvah DRUCKER'S BIRTHDAY:
Vicki and Arnan Rasch Aldo Coelho, M.D. Jean and Joe Wolfson Adele Alam
Alfred Rosen Jean and Joe Wolfson M'M Edwan:l Kom, Danny's Peggy and Jim Doyle
Nancy Rosen Gale Cox & Associates Retum/Ectfie&81en'sNewJobsJules H. Drucker
Vito Russo Bill Haskin Aunt Jean I Uncle Joe Wolfson Mabel L. Hopper
Joseph Afam /Trudy Drucker Dr. David-Daughter's House of Kom Debbie's License The Travers
Sayfie-Suzie's Aunt, Gene's Engagement Aunt Jean I Uncle Joe Wolfson Mary and Patrick Tully
Cousin Jean and Joe Wolfson Mersel Birthdays of Bea & Mike "Yusul"
Jean and Joe Wolfson Jean and Joe Wolfson
21
22
Sponsors & Professional Associates
ATA SPONSOR MEMBERS

Charles L. Adams
Joseph G. Alam
Ronald C. Allan
John R. and Linda L. Anderson
Mary M. Anderson
Gail A. Banavige
Francis C. Bennett
Robert Bennett. Jr.
Rev. Samuel Benson
Allen Bernstein
Max Bernstein
Henry W. Bloch
Ronald W. Bocksruker
Robert Boerner
Dr. and Mrs. William R. Cagney
Charles J. Callaghan, Jr.
Barbara Camp
Hyman E. Capin
Joe and Mary Lou Carey
Phil & Frances Clappison
Miriam Clarke
Robert Cole
Richard W. Cooper
Tony Correa
Patrick M. Costigan
John W. Grisanti, M.D.
Gerald Cunningham
Linwood W. Custalow
L. D. Daugherty
Clarence Day
Elaine Demakas
A. J. Diani
Rick Dilsizian
Mark Douglas
Trudy Drucker
Randall C. Ducote
H. Renwick Dunlap
Josephine Elias
Frederick and Sydell Elkind
Cecil W. Ellis
Donald B. Emerzian
Robert Entenmann
Douglas C. Erikson
Jerry N. Fetter
John W. Finger
Bernard Fishman
David E. Flatow
Mrs. Florence Frank
Norman Frankel, Ph.D.
Robin R. Fuller
Ken P. Gelinas
Pearl Gerson
Nathan Gibson
Earl R. Gilreath
Emanuel Goldman
Andrew Good
C. R. Granberry
Ronald K. Granger
Harold and Dorothy Green
Dorothy T. Griffin
Donald Haake
Paul R. Haas
William R. Hale
Paul K. Halstead
Robert E. Hammonds, M.D.
Alan and Wendy Hart
James R. Hartel Bernard Richards
William J. Haskin Janiece E. Richter
Dennis D. Heindl Patricia E. Roberts
A. James Heins Lydia Robinson
James K. Hess Nancy Rosen
Dan Hocks Jack E. Sassone
Daniel Horgan Marion H. Schenk
Raymond and Anna Houghland Andre Schipper
Paul W. Hultgren Kenneth L. Schurter
Lee C. Hunt Virginia Schurz
James Irving Richard S. Schweiker
H. June Ivins Evelyn Schwertl
John H. Jessen, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Gerald E. Shannon
Patty John Dr. Victor W. Shapiro
Kenneth Jones Mrs. A. B. Shields
George C. Juilfs Thomas Shipley, Jr.
Elaine Jukam Joseph G. Smigelski
Harold S. Karpe Dr. and Mrs. Luther J. Smith, II
Dr. Khairy A. Kawai Luther J. Smith, Ill
Harry G. Keiper Patricia A. Smith
Edward Kelly Sylvia and Raymond Smith
Emily S. Kerley Joseph Souto
Kevin and Deborah Killion Anna R. Spector
Robert A. Kirkman Larry Spoden
Laura P. Kleppick Howard C. Stidham
Joel and Judith Konicek Mickey J. Stipe
Charles Kastel Morton Stotsky
James Krasno B. J. Stovall
Joseph Kubat Jonsie Sturgis
Floyd and Karen Kuehnis, Jr. Faith Sussman
Robert P. Labadort Richard Swenson
Robert and Roberta Lawrence Karen Swensrud
Benjamin J. Levin Morton Tabak
Sondra Limeburner Leon and Carol Tager
Romulus Z. Linney Pat Tauer
Duane Logsdon Britt A. Thedinger
Gary L. Lombardi James R. Thomas
Jed Margolin Fred D. Thompson
Dorothy M. Marshall Jim Thompson
Phil Marshall K. H. Thomsen
David L. McClintock William R. Tower, Jr.
Romulus E. McCoy, Jr. Leon and Carol Tager
Thomas F. McNulty Edward L. Vadnais
Phyllis E. Meier Arlene B. Van Norden
Mary Meikle Jack Vernon
Carle A. Middlekauf Duane Walters
Steven J. Millen, M.D. G. R. Ward
Alexander and Cathy Miller Michael Webber
Stuart M. Mitchell Robert F. Weimer
Stephen Moksnes Eric Weinmann
Martin Monas Delmer D. Weisz
Stanley E. Moore Harold Wells
Jane D. Murphy Frank A. West
Warren Nabours David F. Williams
Richard E. Neldner Thomas W. Winstead
Henry N. Nelson, M.D. Keith C. Winters
Dr. Allan Pacela Willard Wohlgemuth
John Palmieri Martha Wolfgang
Sara A. Patterson Lawrence E. Yont
Henry F. Peters Larry W. York
Mary F. Peters ATA PROFESSIONAL AS-
Harvey A. Pines SOCIATES
Tyrone Powell Daniel P. Akin, M.D.
Stewart Precythe George Atkins. D.M.D.
Kenneth Preston H. A. Ted Bailey, Jr. M.D.
Gloria E. Reich Sherwin A. Basil, M.A.
Ann E. Revere Bruce S. Bloom, M.D.
Ludie G. Richard Rollyn M. Butler, M.D.
Knox Brooks
Emmett E. Campbell, M.D.
Stanley Cannon, M.D.
William T. Chen, M.D.
Robert R. Cooper, M.D.
Anne L. Curtis, M.S.
Linwood W. Custalow, M.D.
C. Phillip Daspit, M.D.
J. Edward Dempsey, M.D.
L. Doertler, Ph.D.
John A. Emmett, M.D.
Stephen Epstein, M.D.
Jack R. Erwin, M.D.
Bruce A. Feldman, M.D.
Elio J. Fornatto, M.D.
Simon H. Friedman, M.D.
John A. Fushman, M.D.
Robert A. Goldenberg, M.D.
Barbara Goldstein, Ph.D.
Norman Goldstein, M.D.
Kenneth Greenspan, M.D.
Lawrence A. Grobman, M.D.
Earl R. Hartord, Ph.D.
Robert A. Harmon, R.Ph.
Kathy J. Harvey
Susan Healea
John H. Hohengarten, M.D.
S. Hoover, M.D.
John W. House, M.D.
Milton lngerman, M.D.
Jim Kaloris
Robert J. Kohlenberg, Ph.D.
Artine Kokshanian, M.D.
Bernard Lipin, M.A.
Jill Meltzer, M.A.
William Meyerhoft, M.D.
Gale Miller, M.D.
Anton P. Milo, M.D.
William H. Moretz, Jr, M.D.
John T. Murray, M.D.
C. Randall Nelms, Jr, M.D.
Thomas J. Norwood, CCC-A
Meredith Pang, M.D.
John L. Payne, M. Ed.
Joseph L. Petrusek, M.D.
Mary D. Reynolds, M.A.
John Alsey, M.C.D.
Philip A. Rosenfeld, M.D.
Ira D. Rothfeld, M.D.
Richard L. Ruggles, M.D.
Kathy Schauer
James T. Scully, M.D.
Keith Sedlacek, M.D.
Abraham Shulman, M.D.
Frank A. Skinner
Mansfield F. W. Smith, M.D.
Robert M. Southard
Robert W. Sweetow, Ph.D.
Bradley S. Thedinger, M.D.
Michael Tobin
Hollis Underwood
John C. Vaughan, M.D.
Joseph P. Velek, M.D.
Robert V. Wagner
Emily J. White
Elliot N. Wineburg, M.D.
Maxine Young, M.S.
Howard 0. Zipper, M.D.
Welcome To The
New Generation
of plification
Excellence.
Exceptional Aesthetics. The 7 Series' ITE and canal faceplates' spe-
cially contoured exterior surfaces blend smoothly with the shape of
the ear and concha. With efficient spacing gained from the fixed mic,
fixed VC, and smaller battery contacts, the 7 Series' family of hearing
aids provide the ultimate cosmetic and acoustic complement to the
ear's natural design and function.
AMERICAN TINNITUS ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 5, PORTLAND, OR 97207
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
A New Generation of
Reliability. The 7 Series intro-
duces a whole new generation of
design excellence. A completely
new faceplate with isolated mi-
crophone and amplifier position-
ing increases manufacturing
efficiency while virtually elimi-
nating mechanical feedback.
The smaller, more stable high
tensile gold-plated contacts
along with the new, ultra-durable
VC and socket assembly both
ensure a more reliable perfor-
mance with virtual elimination
of intermittency problems.
Welcome to the New G e n e r ~
ation. Never before has the in-
dustry experienced this level of
amplification excellence- all
designed to enhance your own
high standards of service excel-
lence. Because we are dedicated
to providing the very best for you
and those you serve, we believe
ALL your patients should benefit
from this newest generation of
unequaled sophistication, no
matter what they presently wear.
Starkey products, including
tinnitus maskers, are available
from your local hearing
health care professional listed
in the Yellow Pages under
"hearing aids".
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAl 0
American Tinnitus
Association

You might also like