Rock band the Inspiral Carpets recently held a tea party to raise money for the British Tinnitus Association following the death of their drummer who had suffered from tinnitus for almost twenty years before taking his own life as a result of the stress caused by it. The band who were part of the ‘Madchester’ scene in the 1990s, held the party at The Smiths room in the legendary Salford Lads’ Club and aimed to raise £500 for the BTA, and while final figures are still being added up, it appears the event was far more successful than they’d hoped, raising at least half of the amount before the event even started.
Craig Gill had joined the band at the age of fourteen and was described by his band mates as the ‘beating heart’ of the group. Tragically he took his own life at his home in Saddleworth last year after suffering from the debilitating effects of the condition for twenty years.
Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears, although those affected may hear other noises such as whistling, hissing or humming. It is most often caused by prolonged or frequent exposure to loud noise and so musicians, particularly those in the rock and pop genres are in a particularly high-risk profession.
There are not any medicines which have been shown to effectively treat tinnitus, but that does not mean that it cannot be treated. There are medicines available that can treat the underlying cause; such as an ear infection, but in most cases the effects of tinnitus can be minimised by making changes to your lifestyle. Relaxation has been shown to be very important in reducing symptoms, along with reducing exposure to any loud noises.
Can you make a claim for Tinnitus?
If your hearing has been damaged as a result of your employment it is quite possible that you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Employers have a duty to protect the health and welfare of their workforce and that includes ensuring suitable hearing protection is put into place; both through physical means such as ear protectors, but also through procedural measures such as avoiding noise in the first place, or making machines or places quieter. Contact us today for a free, no obligations discussion about your case and let us see how we can help you deal with this dreadful condition.