Initiative Launched To Raise Awareness Of Hearing Condition

An industrial disease specialist at Irwin Mitchell has welcomed a new campaign from the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) to encourage the creation of support groups for those with hearing problems.

The organisation’s Talking Tinnitus campaign is based around helping people to talk about their experiences of coping with the condition and other cases of noise-induced hearing loss.

It is hope that by raising awareness of the issue, sufferers will be encouraged to start support groups which offer the best possible environment to discuss such issues. At present just 32 such groups are up and running in the UK, despite over 120 previously being existence.

Louise Scott, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office who acts for people who have suffered damage to their hearing caused by exposure to noise at work, is a committee member of the Birmingham & District Tinnitus Group – the oldest and largest Tinnitus Support Group in the UK.

Commenting on the benefits of such groups, she explained: “Tinnitus is a terrible condition which can have major impact on a sufferer’s life, but in terms of hearing and also psychologically.

“Self-help groups like the Birmingham & District Tinnitus Group aim to give the best support and information available to help people cope with tinnitus.  Our group provides sufferers of this condition with access to up-to-date information through meetings, newsletters and support literature, while it also offers anyone troubled by tinnitus the chance to meet others in a supportive environment.

“In addition, it supports tinnitus research and work towards improvement of services available to sufferers.

“We hope that other people are inspired by the Talking Tinnitus campaign to set up more support groups and help those who have suffered noise-induced hearing loss through no fault of their own to get advice and help that they need.”

If you or a loved one has suffered from hearing damage such as acoustic shock, tinnitus, and noise-induced hearing loss caused by conditions at work our solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Industrial Disease Claims page for more information.