People in this video:
Florence
John, Florence’s husband
Florence: I have had it now for 40 years and the tinnitus came at the same time as the hearing failed. It overtakes… when you are wanting to hear something specific, that [the tinnitus] becomes more aggressive, and it makes it very difficult for you to hear.
My biggest problem with tinnitus is when I am alone in the house it comes in various forms… sometimes I get a very high-pitched whistle; most of the time it’s as though I am in the cockpit of an aeroplane, but when I am alone I don't know if the noise is in my ear or if there is a fire in the house. But I think because mine came on gradually, although it gets worse on occasions … I've grown with it ... and you do learn to live with it. Until you really want to hear something (laughter) and then you are back to square one.
[The RNID] gave me three leaflets. The one on Time to Relax - that is brilliant… it crystallises something that is in the back of your mind that you know you should be doing… this one [Watch this Face) really is very good to give someone who is talking to you to look at, because people don't realise and they start talking to you as they walk out of the door, when you really need to see them. Although I can’t lipread very well, if I see the mouth move and I see the expressions on the face, it assists [me] in getting the gist of the conversation.
This one – Tinnitus explained [now updated] – it just seemed to reach the point. It was such a good leaflet. I think RNID do a wonderful job.
Anne
Ben
Zubair & Zuheb
Cilla & Donna
Dr Ruth Taylor
Lorraine
Joanne
Jim
Katie
Phil