Understanding

Deafness & Tinnitus

By Professor Tony Wright

IMPORTANT NOTICE
This information is intended not as a substitute for personal medical advice but as a supplement to that advice for the patient who wishes to understand more about his or her condition.
Before taking any form of treatment YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.
In particular (without limit) you should note that advances in medical science occur rapidly and some of the information about drugs and treatment may very soon be out of date.

Introduction

Becoming deaf, however severe the hearing loss, can be a miserable experience. Unlike many other conditions, deafness is not immediately obvious to other people, and being unable to hear can cause many problems at work, at home and when social­ising. People who have normal hearing frequently have little patience with those who do not hear so well. As it is often very difficult for deaf people to under­stand speech – which is perhaps the major characteristic that distin­guishes us from other mammals – those who can hear give up trying to communicate with deaf people, get angry or just walk away.
When a child loses his hearing, other people may not notice until he develops a problem such as slowness in speech, a failure to learn new words, poor pronun­ciation, or even bad behaviour and emotional problems. Being born deaf in a hearing family raises problems, not only of detection but also of when, how and whether to intervene. Being born deaf to profoundly deaf parents brings about another set of dilemmas for all those involved – often with disagreements among the various groups – as to what should be done in the best interests of the child.
Tinnitus, which can be described as hearing sounds or noises when those sounds or noises are not present in the environment, is very common and often occurs in association with deafness. The noises that affected people hear can be extremely distressing, alter their moods and behaviour, and even interfere with what hearing they do have. Tinnitus is an unseen condition, and kindness and sympathy from others are the exception rather than the rule.

Overall some degree of deafness affects one in seven of the UK population and this high figure results in hearing problems being the second most common reported disability in the UK. The hearing loss ranges from slightly hard of hearing to profound deafness, with ageing being the most common cause. Three-quarters of those with a hearing loss are aged over 60, although one child in every 1,000 is born with a significant hearing impairment. Tinnitus involves most people at some time in their lives but approximately 1 in 50 of the population have moderate or worse problems and 1 in 200 have their quality of life severely affected.
The dual aims of this small book are to bring about an understanding of the impact of hearing loss and tinnitus within the community and on the individuals who have these impairments. To do this, the book takes you through the structure of the ear and how it works, describes the different sorts of hearing loss that can occur, and how best they can be managed. It then goes on to describe the common and not so common problems that can damage hearing. The second part of the book explains what tinnitus is and current ideas about it, and suggests some ways to manage it.
Throughout this book, non­medical terms are used wherever possible for ease of reading. The first time a term is mentioned, it is followed by the medical name in brackets, for example, eardrum (tympanic membrane); this is intended to help readers who come across other texts where medical terms are used. Sometimes a wide range of names is given. This is not intended to confuse but to help those who ‘surf the net’ because acoustic neuromas, for example, are frequently called ‘vestibular schwannomas’, and a simple search can miss lots of useful information. A list of further reading and helpful contact points is included at the end of the book under Useful addresses.

THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) aims to reduce discrimination against deaf people in employment and in access to goods and services. It applies only to severely or profoundly deaf people who can prove that their deafness has an adverse effect on their daily life. It does not apply to mild or periodic hearing loss.
A disabled person must not be treated less favourably by an employer or service provider than someone who is not disabled would be treated in the same circum­stances. The DDA covers anything that is related to employment (such as the offer, terms and benefits of employment) and opportunities for promotion. However, it does not cover employers with fewer than 15 staff. If a deaf person feels that he or she has been discriminated against, he or she should seek legal advice as soon as possible (for example, through their local Citizens Advice Bureau). More information about the DDA can be obtained by calling the DDA Helpline for an information pack or visiting their website – see the Useful addresses at the end of the book.