It was 1971, and Jack Vernon, Ph.D., a longtime champion of tinnitus patients, was conducting clinical research at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. He began treating Dr. Charles Unice, a California physician and tinnitus sufferer, and together the two founded the American Tinnitus Association. Its aim – to raise money to fund tinnitus research – endures today.

The extent of ATA in those early days was a closet-sized office and a handful of volunteers in Portland. Today, thanks largely to Jack's vision and commitment to finding better tinnitus treatments and a cure, highly-skilled professionals staff ATA. It is the nation’s largest association of individual contributors that awards grants for tinnitus research. We are lucky to still have Jack Vernon as an adviser, honorary board member and stalwart patient advocate.

A Timeline of Historical ATA Highlights

1971 – Jack Vernon, Ph.D., and Charles Unice, Ph.D., establish the American Tinnitus Association in Portland, Oregon.

1975 – Gloria Reich, Ph.D., becomes ATA Executive Director.

1976 – Scientific Advisory Committee, comprised of prominent professionals who were specialists in auditory disorders, and research is founded.

1977-1980 – Educational workshops on tinnitus were presented nationwide. These provided information to more than 1,200 professionals interested in the evaluation and management of tinnitus patients.

1978 – Parade magazine publishes an article about tinnitus and ATA’s efforts. More than 100,000 pieces of mail arrive at the ATA office, creating the need for paid staff.

1979 – ATA incorporates as a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization (nonprofit status).

1980 – ATA awards its first research grant, $12,000, to Oregon tinnitus researcher Mary B. Meikle, Ph.D., who uses the money to start the first-ever registry of tinnitus patients. The project eventually attracts funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and grows into a valuable tool for tinnitus researchers.

1980 – Rock group STYX, of "Mr. Roboto" fame, contributes part of proceeds of their gold record to tinnitus research.

1981 – ATA co-sponsors a public service announcement featuring "The Hulk" Lou Ferrigno, which prompted thousands of telephone inquiries.

1982 – ATA establishes nationwide support group network.

1983 – Dear Abby’s advice column mentions tinnitus and ATA, generating 20,000 letters to our organization.

1983 – Actor William Christopher, from the hit television show M*A*S*H*, stars in a series of public service announcements about tinnitus for ATA.

1986 – Dear Abby and Ann Landers columns mention ATA, sparking 120,000 letters to ATA and financial contributions that move the organization forward.

1986 – Legendary actor Tony Randall helped ATA by starring in a series of public service announcements about tinnitus and recorded a humorous video about the pronunciation of tinnitsu with comedian Jerry Stiller.

1986 – ATA Executive Director Gloria Reich, Ph.D, appears on the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour in a segment about tinnitus and ATA.

1986 – The ATA support network consists of over 150 support groups spread throughout the United States and Canada.

1988 – Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan accepts appoinment as chairman of National Better Hearing and Speech month. President Reagan acquired tinnitus from the noise of a gunshot during the filming of a movie.

1988 – Race car driver Al Unser and Olympic gold medalist Jeff Float appear in public service announcements.

1980s-1990s – Medical research makes significant progress in the search for a tinnitus cure. Greatest advance is in determining how tinnitus starts and which areas of the auditory system – from the ear to the brain – are affected.

1990 – Tony Randall and Senator Paul Simon testify before Senator Harkin's comminttee about tinnitus.

1991 – Jerry Stiller is interviewed about his tinnitus in the national media.

1994 – Barbra Streisand speaks about her tinnitus and and donates money to ATA for research.

1995 – Fifth International Tinnitus Seminar hosted by ATA in Portland, Oregon. Scientists from 25 countries appeared and presented papers about tinnitus.

1995 – William Shatner testifies before Congress and records a public service announcement for ATA.

1997 – Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter produces media announcements about tinnintus.

2000 – Gloria Reich, Ph.D., is honored for her 20 years of service as ATA's first Executive Director.

2001 – Co-founder Jack Vernon, Ph.D., receives Outstanding Health Care Professional Award and is honored at the ATA Founders' Gala on November 10, 2001, in Portland, Oregon.

2002 – ATA sponsors the Mid-Atlantic Tinnitus Conference.

2002 – Sid Kleinman, 70-year old Chair of the ATA Board of Directors, rides a bicycle over 1,000 miles through Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Tennessee, in a historic event to raise awareness of tinnitus.

2005 – Rolls out Roadmap to a Cure, an innovative guide for researchers that identifies what researchers know now about tinnitus and what more information they need to develop a cure. Path A and B focus on where and how tinnitus starts. Paths C and D focus on treatments.

2007 – ATA adopts a new, more focused mission to find resources to advance research that will lead to a tinnitus cure.

2007 – ATA member and tinnitus sufferer, Donna Brown reaches the summit of Mt. Rainier in Washington state and raises over $300,000 for tinnitus research.

2008 – William Shatner records a personal video for ATA members and tinnitus sufferers throughout the world.

2008 – ATA representatives make trip to Washington, D.C. to acknowledge its 2007 Congressional Champions.

2008 – Awards $595,462 for research grants.

2009 – Co-sponsors tinnitus workshop with the NIDCD in Washington, D.C., a collaboration aimed at accelerating the state of tinnitus research. 

2009 – Gary Reul, Ed.D., retires as ATA CEO and joins the ATA Board of Directors as Chairman and Michael Malusevic becomes new ATA Executive Director.

2009 – ATA acknowledges its 2008 Congressional Champions for their role in helping expand public funding for tinnitus research.

2009 – Awards $200,500 for research grants.

2010 – Tennis star Jennifer Capriati records a video with mother, and tinnitus sufferer, Denise Capriati to speak about ATA and tinnitus.

2010 – Co-sponsors 4th International TRI Tinnitus Conference, "Frontiers in Tinnitus Research".

2010 – ATA acknowledges its 2009 Congressional Champions.
 

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