A TINNITUS support group which meets at Warwick Hospital has struck gold.
It has become one of the first groups in the country to be awarded the gold standard for tinnitus support groups by the British Tinnitus Association (BTA).
The group, led by audiologists from the hospital’s audiology department, enables people with tinnitus to meet others with the condition, share useful tips on coping methods and find out what help is available.
Colette Bunker, BTA volunteer and support group manager said: “A group has to meet a number of criteria to be considered a BTA Gold Standard group. These criteria are designed to ensure groups are working hard to be inclusive, encouraging peer-to-peer interaction and are providing people with accurate and up-to-date information in a safe and friendly environment.
“We know that support groups can really help a person lead the best life they can, and the team at Warwick are dedicated to helping people overcome the distress tinnitus can cause, and we are delighted to be able to recognise their hard work.”
Audiologist Nasir Rashid was delighted to receive the recognition.
He said: “I feel like we are providing quite a valuable service to our community in Warwick.
“We have tried hard to organise relevant speakers and try to meet the requests in this regard from our members. We have adhered to all recommendations and standards of the BTA. We have also delivered our own audiology led presentations and these have been very well received by the group. With all this in place I hope this positive feedback from the BTA will serve as great publicity and encourage others to join and benefit from the service.”
Tinnitus is defined as the experience of sounds with no external source, most commonly ringing or buzzing, but sometimes experienced as whooshing, clicking or even music.
Around one in eight adults experience tinnitus. Many are not troubled by sounds they hear, but for around one in ten, the condition has a significant impact on their quality of life, often linked to stress, anxiety or sometimes depression.
Visit www.swft.nhs.uk/our-services/adult-hospital-services/audiology-hearing or call 01926 482668 for further details.
